AP Photo
Winter 2010/11
"Two Cheers for Bargaining Theory: Assessing Rationalist Explanations of the Iraq War"
Journal Article, International Security, issue 3, volume 35
The Iraq War has received little sustained analysis from scholars of international relations. This article assesses the rationalist approach to war - or, simply, bargaining theory - as one possible explanation of the conflict. Bargaining theory correctly directs attention to the inherently strategic nature of all wars. It also highlights problems of credible commitment and asymmetric information that lead conflicts of interest, ubiquitous in international relations, to turn violent. These strategic interactions were central to the outbreak of the Iraq War in 2003.
Spring 2008
"Correspondence: The Role of Hierarchy in International Politics"
Journal Article, International Security, issue 4, volume 32
By Paul MacDonald, Former Research Fellow, International Security Program, 2006-2008 and David A. Lake
Paul MacDonald responds to David Lake's Summer 2007 International Security article, "Escape from the State of Nature: Authority and Hierarchy in World Politics."
Summer 2007
"Escape from the State of Nature: Authority and Hierarchy in World Politics"
Journal Article, issue 1, volume 32
International relations scholars have long assumed that world politics is anarchic: if no institution exists above the state, there can be no authority above it. Yet evidence suggests that many states do engage in hierarchical relationships where dominant states command—with varying degrees of legitimacyR
Summer 2003
"Fair Fights? Evaluating Theories of Democracy and Victory"
Journal Article, International Security, issue 1, volume 28
David Lake contends that Desch's research design does not provide a fair test of the relationship between democracy and success in war.
Winter 2011/12
"Correspondence: Bargaining Theory and Rationalist Explanations for the Iraq War"
Journal Article, International Security, issue 3, volume 36
By Michael K. McKoy and David A. Lake
Michael K. McKoy responds to David A. Lake's winter 2010/11 International Security article, "Two Cheers for Bargaining Theory: Assessing Rationalist Explanations for the Iraq War."
AP Photo
Winter 2010/11
"Two Cheers for Bargaining Theory: Assessing Rationalist Explanations of the Iraq War"
Journal Article, International Security, issue 3, volume 35
The Iraq War has received little sustained analysis from scholars of international relations. This article assesses the rationalist approach to war - or, simply, bargaining theory - as one possible explanation of the conflict. Bargaining theory correctly directs attention to the inherently strategic nature of all wars. It also highlights problems of credible commitment and asymmetric information that lead conflicts of interest, ubiquitous in international relations, to turn violent. These strategic interactions were central to the outbreak of the Iraq War in 2003.
Summer 2003
"Fair Fights? Evaluating Theories of Democracy and Victory"
Journal Article, International Security, issue 1, volume 28
David Lake contends that Desch's research design does not provide a fair test of the relationship between democracy and success in war.
Spring 2008
"Correspondence: The Role of Hierarchy in International Politics"
Journal Article, International Security, issue 4, volume 32
By Paul MacDonald, Former Research Fellow, International Security Program, 2006-2008 and David A. Lake
Paul MacDonald responds to David Lake's Summer 2007 International Security article, "Escape from the State of Nature: Authority and Hierarchy in World Politics."
Summer 2007
"Escape from the State of Nature: Authority and Hierarchy in World Politics"
Journal Article, issue 1, volume 32
International relations scholars have long assumed that world politics is anarchic: if no institution exists above the state, there can be no authority above it. Yet evidence suggests that many states do engage in hierarchical relationships where dominant states command—with varying degrees of legitimacyR
Summer 2001
"Beyond Anarchy: The Importance of Security Institutions"
Journal Article, International Security, issue 1, volume 26
How influential are security institutions in establishing patterns of conflict and cooperation within the international system?
