Self-containment: achieving peace in anarchic settings

Antonis Adam, Petros Sekeris

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    Abstract

    In anarchic settings, potential rivals can be dragged into arms races degenerating in open wars out of mutual suspicion. We propose a novel commitment device for contestants to avoid both arming and fighting. We assume that the Military decides the armament levels of a country, while the Civilian decides whether to attack a rival country. When these decision-making bodies perfectly communicate, the decision makers are unable to credibly communicate to their foe their willingness not to arm and not to attack, thus implying that war ensues. With imperfect information, however, peace may ensue as countries credibly signal to their rival a more peaceful stance since contestants are more reluctant to enter in an armed confrontation with a potentially understated army. Using data on the 1975-2001 period, we provide supportive evidence that in countries where the head of the state or the defence minister are military officers, and are therefore better informed of their armies’ fighting preparedness, the likelihood of observing an international conflict is higher.
    Original languageEnglish
    JournalJournal of Conflict Resolution: Research on War and Peace between and within Nations
    Early online date14 Jan 2015
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2015

    Keywords

    • WNU
    • Conflict
    • Private Information
    • Commitment

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