Negotiating Minefields : The Landmines Ban in American Politics

Against all odds, the International Campaign to Ban Landmines helped to enact a global treaty banning antipersonnel mines in 1997. For that achievement it was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. In this volume, Leon Sigal shows how a handful of NGOs with almost no mass base got more than 100 countries to outlaw a weapon that their armies had long used. It is a story of intrigue and misperception, of clashing norms and interests, of contentious bureaucratic and domestic politics. It is also a story of effective leadership, of sustained commitment to a cause, of alliances between campaigners and government officials, of a US senator who championed the ban, and of the skilful use of the news media. Despite this monumental effort, the campaign failed to get the United States to sign the treaty. Drawing on extensive internal documents and interviews with US officials and ban campaigners, Sigal tells the story of the in-fighting inside the Clinton administration, in the Pentagon, and within the ban campaign itself that led to this major setback for an otherwise unprecedented, successful global effort. Negotiating Minefields will be of interest to students and scholars of military and strategic studies and politics and international relations. Against All Odds, The International Campaign To Ban Landmines Helped To Enact A Global Treaty Banning Antipersonnel Mines In 1997. For That Signal Achievement It Was Awarded The Nobel Peace Prize. Shows How A Handful Of Ngos With Almost No Mass Base Got More Than 100 Countries To Outlaw A Weapon That Their Armies Had Long Used. It Is A Story Of Intrigue And Misperception, Of Clashing Norms And Interests, Of Contentious Bureaucratic And Domestic Politics. It Is Also A Story Of Effective Leadership, Of Sustained Commitment To A Cause, Of Alliances Between Campaigners And Government Officials, Of A U.s. Senator Who Championed The Ban, And Of Skillful Use Of The News Media. Yet, Despite This Monumental Effort, The Campaign Failed To Get The United States To Sign The Treaty. Drawing On Extensive Internal Documents And Interviews With U.s. Officials And Ban Campaigners. Tells The Inside Story Of The In-fighting Inside The Clinton Administration, In The Pentagon, And Within The Ban Campaign Itself That Led To This Major Setback For An Otherwise Unprecedented, Successful Global Effort. From Publisher Description. Ch. 1. Irresistible Force Meets An Immovable Object -- Ch. 2. Beyond The Limits Of Arms Control -- Ch. 3. Campaign To Bring In Outsiders -- Ch. 4. Beyond Regulation To A Ban -- Ch. 5. Canada Takes Charge -- Ch. 6. Civilian Deference To Service Interests -- Ch. 7. President Fails To Push The Military -- Ch. 8. Ban Wagon Starts To Roll -- Ch. 9. Think Globally, Act Locally -- Ch. 10. From Oslo Back To Ottawa -- Ch. 11. Campaigners And Officials. Leon V. Sigal. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 245-277) And Index. CT, ST, BT Front cover 1 Table of Contents 6 Preface 10 List of Acronyms 12 Chapter 1. An Irresistible Force Meets an Immovable Object 14 Chapter 2. Beyond the Limits of Arms Control 22 Chapter 3. A Campaign to Bring in Outsiders 38 Chapter 4. Beyond Regulation to a Ban 70 Chapter 5. Canada Takes Charge 102 Chapter 6. Civilian Deference to Service Interests 116 Chapter 7. The President Fails to Push the Military 136 Chapter 8. The Ban Wagon Starts to Roll 168 Chapter 9. Think Globally, Act Locally 188 Chapter 10. From Oslo Back to Ottawa 204 Chapter 11. Campaigners and Officials 238 Endnotes 258 Index 292 Back cover 308 Shows how a handful of NGOs with almost no mass base got more than 100 countries to outlaw a weapon that their armies had long used. This is a story of intrigue and misperception, of clashing norms and interests, of contentious bureaucratic and domestic politics