Despots, Democrats, And The Determinants Of International Conflict

This book provides an unequivocal endorsement of an assertive and resolute approach to foreign policy by democracies in their dealings with dictatorships. Drawing on the political writings of Kant, the rationale of Churchill's anti-appeasement policy, and the most up-to-date empirical research in international relations, the author forges a rigorous decision-theoretic model to account for the international interactions between despotic and democratic regimes. The model's validity is illustrated across a broad range of historical examples, while its policy-oriented implications, are shown to have far-reaching consequences for conventional perceptions of democratic deterrence posture and the security dilemma. Front Matter....Pages i-x Introduction: An Overview of the Book....Pages 1-5 Front Matter....Pages 7-7 Chapter 1....Pages 9-24 Chapter 2....Pages 25-50 Chapter 3....Pages 51-76 Front Matter....Pages 77-77 Chapter 4....Pages 79-86 Chapter 5....Pages 87-136 Chapter 6....Pages 137-148 Front Matter....Pages 149-149 Chapter 7....Pages 151-157 Chapter 8....Pages 158-167 Chapter 9....Pages 168-179 Chapter 10....Pages 180-189 Summary: A Review of the Book....Pages 190-194 Back Matter....Pages 195-230