• Interstate Conflict
  • About
  • 1 Introduction (Week 1)
    • 1.1 Discussion questions
    • 1.2 What this course will and will not cover
    • 1.3 Assignments
      • 1.3.1 Structure of the essays
    • 1.4 Optional presentations
    • 1.5 Appointment
    • 1.6 Resources
    • 1.7 How to search and download research articles
    • 1.8 How to submit your work on Blackboard
  • 2 War and the Long Peace (Week 2)
    • 2.1 Discussion questions
    • 2.2 War
      • 2.2.1 COW’s operational definition
      • 2.2.2 Datasets
    • 2.3 Is the world getting more peaceful?
    • 2.4 Why do we need to care about theories?
    • 2.5 Additional resources
  • 3 Bargaining (Week 3 & 4)
    • 3.1 Discussion questions
    • 3.2 In-class activity: why is war puzzling?
    • 3.3 Why can’t existing (prior to 1995) theories resolve the puzzle?
    • 3.4 Additional resources
    • 3.5 Discussion questions (Week 4)
    • 3.6 Some clarification of terminology
    • 3.7 Theoretical critique
    • 3.8 Empirical critique
    • 3.9 Additional resources
  • 4 Democratic peace (Week 5)
    • 4.1 Discussion questions
    • 4.2 Theory
    • 4.3 Empirics
    • 4.4 Policy implications: U.S. foreign policy
    • 4.5 Additional resources
  • 5 Audience costs (Week 7)
    • 5.1 Discussion questions
    • 5.2 Kertzer, J. D. and Brutger, R. (2016)
    • 5.3 Trachtenberg (2012)
    • 5.4 Additional resources
  • 6 Selectorate theory (Week 8)
    • 6.1 Discussion questions
    • 6.2 Selectorate theory
    • 6.3 Winning coalition and political survival
    • 6.4 Resources
  • 7 Territorial peace (Week 9)
    • 7.1 Discussion questions
    • 7.2 Steps-to-war
    • 7.3 Territorial
    • 7.4 Additional resources
  • 8 Commercial peace (Week 10)
    • 8.1 Discussion questions
    • 8.2 A theory of commercial peace
    • 8.3 An economic theory of war
    • 8.4 Additional resources
  • 9 Diversion (Week 11)
    • 9.1 Discussion questions
    • 9.2 Additional resources
  • 10 Alliance (Week 12)
    • 10.1 Discussion questions
    • 10.2 Additional resources
  • 11 Prediction (Week 13)
    • 11.1 Discussion questions
  • Published with bookdown

Interstate Conflict

Chapter 9 Diversion (Week 11)

9.1 Discussion questions

  • Fravel (2010): What is the main argument? Is it convincing or not? Why?

  • Tir (2010): What is the main argument? Is it convincing or not? Why?

  • Does alliance increase or decrease the risk of conflict? (*)

Wag the Dog - Original Theatrical Trailer

‘Wag the Dog’ | Critics’ Picks | The New York Times

9.2 Additional resources

Decolonize Russia: To avoid more senseless bloodshed, the Kremlin must lose what empire it still retains.

Was the Malvinas/Falklands a Diversionary War? A Prospect-Theory Reinterpretation of Argentina’s Decline

The Falklands oil rush and Thatcher’s War

Oil, the Islands and the Falklands Lobby (1976–1979)

Diversionary War: Domestic Unrest and International Conflict

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A PROXY WAR IN UKRAINE IS THE WORST POSSIBLE OUTCOME — EXCEPT FOR ALL THE OTHERS

WHEN STRONGMEN INVADE, THEY BRING THEIR PATHOLOGIES WITH THEM