Dan Altman
@daltmanir.bsky.social
Associate Professor of Political Science at Georgia State University. Conquest, faits accomplis, deterrence, coercion failure, causes of war. Website: dan-altman.weebly.com
It sounds like you are looking for history, not political science, but that aside I strongly recommend the "Modern System" chapter in press.princeton.edu/books/paperb...
Military Power
press.princeton.edu
June 13, 2024 at 8:26 PM
It sounds like you are looking for history, not political science, but that aside I strongly recommend the "Modern System" chapter in press.princeton.edu/books/paperb...
These signaling strategies are abstract, but they have very real implications for important policy decisions. For a “downpaying costs” approach to signaling resolve to Russia, see www.foreignaffairs.com/ukraine/how-...
How to Convince Putin He Will Lose
The West must show that it can outlast Russia in Ukraine.
www.foreignaffairs.com
June 13, 2024 at 7:00 PM
These signaling strategies are abstract, but they have very real implications for important policy decisions. For a “downpaying costs” approach to signaling resolve to Russia, see www.foreignaffairs.com/ukraine/how-...
Downpaying costs takes many forms including fighting the first part of a war, arms buildups, mobilizations, certain kinds of economic sanctions, and more. These are costly steps toward ultimately winning a war on the battlefield.
June 13, 2024 at 6:59 PM
Downpaying costs takes many forms including fighting the first part of a war, arms buildups, mobilizations, certain kinds of economic sanctions, and more. These are costly steps toward ultimately winning a war on the battlefield.
Others have written about balance tilting, but we introduce the idea of downpaying costs. States downpay the costs of war much like you use a downpayment to make credible your commitment to pay off a home loan.
June 13, 2024 at 6:59 PM
Others have written about balance tilting, but we introduce the idea of downpaying costs. States downpay the costs of war much like you use a downpayment to make credible your commitment to pay off a home loan.
For instance, mobilization is the most popular application of sinking costs, but it does more than burn money. It also tilts the military balance and downpays part of the costs of war.
June 13, 2024 at 6:58 PM
For instance, mobilization is the most popular application of sinking costs, but it does more than burn money. It also tilts the military balance and downpays part of the costs of war.
Our argument: rather than burn money (“sinking costs”), states invest it. Specifically, they invest in improving the probability of victory in war (“balance tilting”), or they downpay the costs of war (“downpaying costs”).
June 13, 2024 at 6:58 PM
Our argument: rather than burn money (“sinking costs”), states invest it. Specifically, they invest in improving the probability of victory in war (“balance tilting”), or they downpay the costs of war (“downpaying costs”).
Yet it remains unclear which actual policies are applications of sinking costs. For empirical scholars and policymakers, the concept is elusive. We inventory every application of sinking costs in IR literature, explaining why few best fit the concept.
June 13, 2024 at 6:58 PM
Yet it remains unclear which actual policies are applications of sinking costs. For empirical scholars and policymakers, the concept is elusive. We inventory every application of sinking costs in IR literature, explaining why few best fit the concept.
Background: to credibly signal resolve, states send costly signals. Canonically, this is done by tying hands or sinking costs. Sinking costs is “burning money,” bearing costs up front to demonstrate resolve over an issue. jstor.org/stable/174487
Signaling Foreign Policy Interests: Tying Hands versus Sinking Costs on JSTOR
James D. Fearon, Signaling Foreign Policy Interests: Tying Hands versus Sinking Costs, The Journal of Conflict Resolution, Vol. 41, No. 1, New Games: Modeling Domestic-International Linkages (Feb., 1997), pp. 68-90
jstor.org
June 13, 2024 at 6:57 PM
Background: to credibly signal resolve, states send costly signals. Canonically, this is done by tying hands or sinking costs. Sinking costs is “burning money,” bearing costs up front to demonstrate resolve over an issue. jstor.org/stable/174487