Coalitions of Convenience : United States Military Interventions after the Cold War

Why does the United States sometimes seek multilateral support for its military interventions? When does it instead sidestep international institutions and intervene unilaterally? In __Coalitions of Convenience,__ a comprehensive study of US military interventions in the post-Cold War era, Sarah Kreps shows that contrary to conventional wisdom, even superpowers have strong incentives to intervene multilaterally: coalitions confer legitimacy and provide ways to share the costly burdens of war. Despite these advantages, multilateralism comes with costs: multilateral responses are often diplomatic battles of attrition in which reluctant allies hold out for side payments in exchange for their consent. A powerful state's willingness to work multilaterally, then, depends on its time horizons--how it values the future versus the present. States with long-term--those that do not face immediate threats--see multilateralism as a power-conserving strategy over time. States with shorter-term horizons will find the expediency of unilateralism more attractive. A systematic account of how multilateral coalitions function, __Coalitions of Convenience__ also considers the broader effects of power on international institutions and what the rise of China may mean for international cooperation and conflict. Why Does The United States Sometimes Seek Multilateral Support For Its Military Interventions? When Does It Instead Sidestep International Institutions And Intervene Unilaterally? In Coalitions Of Convenience, A Comprehensive Study Of U.s. Military Interventions In The Post-cold War Era, Sarah E. Kreps Shows That Contrary To Conventional Wisdom, Even Superpowers Have Strong Incentives To Intervene Multilaterally : Coalitions Confer Legitimacy And Provide Ways To Share The Costly Burdens Of War. Despite These Advantages, Multilateralism Comes With Costs : Multilateral Responses Are Often Diplomatic Battles Of Attrition In Which Reluctant Allies Hold Out For Side Payments In Exchange For Their Consent. A Powerful State's Willingness To Work Multilaterally, Then, Depends On Its Time Horizons -- How It Values The Future Versus The Present States With Long-term Horizons -- Those That Do Not Face Immediate Threats -- See Multilateralism As A Power-conserving Strategy Over Time. States With Shorter-term Horizons Will Find The Expediency Of Unilateralism More Attractive. A Systematic Account Of How Multilateral Coalitions Function, Coalitions Of Convenience Also Considers The Broader Effects Of Power On International Institutions And What The Rise Of China May Mean For International Cooperation And Conflict. Defining Cooperation Under Unipolarity -- Explaining Cooperation In Post-cold War Military Interventions -- The Gulf War And The New World Order -- Haiti: Quid Pro Quo Multilateralism -- Afghanistan: The Mission Determines The Coalition -- Iraq, The United States, And The Coalition Of The Willing. Sarah E. Kreps. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Why does the United States sometimes seek multilateral support for its military interventions? When does it instead sidestep international institutions and intervene unilaterally? In Coalitions of Convenience, a comprehensive study of US military interventions in the post-Cold War era, Sarah Kreps shows that contrary to conventional wisdom, even superpowers have strong incentives to intervene multilaterally: coalitions confer legitimacy and provide ways to share the costly burdens of war. Despite these advantages, multilateralism comes with costs: multilateral responses are often diplomatic battles of attrition in which reluctant allies hold out for side payments in exchange for their consent. A powerful state's willingness to work multilaterally, then, depends on its time horizons--how it values the future versus the present. States with long-term--those that do not face immediate threats--see multilateralism as a power-conserving strategy over time. States with shorter-term horizons will find the expediency of unilateralism more attractive. A systematic account of how multilateral coalitions function, Coalitions of Convenience also considers the broader effects of power on international institutions and what the rise of China may mean for international cooperation and conflict. Content: ""Contents"" ""Chapter 1: Introduction"" ""Chapter 2: Defining Cooperation under Unipolarity"" ""Chapter 3: Explaining Cooperation in Post�Cold War Military Interventions"" ""Chapter 4: The Gulf War and the New World Order"" ""Chapter 5: Haiti: Quid Pro Quo Multilateralism"" ""Chapter 6: Afghanistan: The Mission Determines the Coalition"" ""Chapter 7: Iraq, the United States, and the “Coalition of the Willing�"" ""Chapter 8: Conclusion"" ""Notes"" ""Index"" ""A"" ""B"" ""C"" ""D"" ""E"" ""F"" ""G"" ""H"" ""I"" ""J"" ""K"" ""L"" ""M"" ""N"" ""O"" ""P"" ""Q"" ""R""""s"" ""t"" ""u"" ""v"" ""w"" ""y"" ""z"" In 'Coalitions of Convenience', Sarah E. Kreps shows that even powerful states have incentives to intervene multilaterally. Coalitions and international organization blessing confer legitimacy and provide ways to share what are often costly burdens of war Defining cooperation under unipolarity Explaining cooperation in post-Cold War military interventions The 1990-1991 Gulf War The 1994 Haiti intervention International security cooperation in Afghanistan The 2003 Iraq War.