How Not to Do Statecraft

Session Submission Type: Roundtable

Session Description

In the modern history of international relations, there have been a lot of critical junctures when a different policy decision, underpinned by an alternative epistemic framing, might have avoided catastrophe and led to a more peaceful and prosperous world. In this roundtable -- linked to a special centenary issue of International Affairs - we consider the well-intentioned efforts of policymakers over the past century, relying on commonly-used instruments of statecraft, that turned out badly. For the purposes of this roundtable, “failure” is defined as outcomes that are widely recognized as at variance from the instigating actor’s ex ante expectations and lead to lose-lose outcomes.

The participants of this roundtable will discuss catastrophic failures within their particular policy bailiwicks, in many instances drawing on their own experiences with advising policymakers. Stephanie Carvin considers how the U.S. enthusiasm for technological innovation in warfighting led to faulty approaches to warfighting. Daniel Drezner analyzes instances in which the imposition of economic sanctions ended with all sides being worse off. Igor Istomin explores why great powers seek to interfere in the domestic politics of other countries and how that can end badly. Amrita Narlikar explores the rise of the global South in multilateral trade negotiations and how their bargaining strength led to negotiating failure. Valerie Rosoux considers hidden costs of international mediation efforts in the global South. And Cecilia Emma Sottilotta looks at the European Union's efforts at regional integration and why EU structures compounded the errors made in response to the Great Recession and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sub Unit

• Division 20: Foreign Policy

Chair

• Daniel W. Drezner Tufts University

Presenters

• Daniel W. Drezner Tufts University

• Stephanie Carvin Carleton University

• Cecilia Emma Sottilotta The American University of Rome

• Valerie Rosoux University of Louvain

• Igor Istomin MGIMO University