The Graduate School of International Studies
Yonsei University
Spring 2006
International Conflict and its Resolution
Ajin Choi
choiajin@yonsei.ac.kr / 02-2123-6298
xxx New Millennium Building
4:00-6:50 Thursday
Office Hour: 3:00-5:00 Wednesday or by appointment
Course Description
This course examines the main approaches to international conflict and its resolution
focusing on the roles of military force, bargaining, mediation, intervention, sanction,
international institution, political leader, and domestic political regime. Then, the course
moves its attention to the analysis of both historical and current events. This course
encourages students to participate in class discussions throughout the semester and to
present their own research paper at the end of the semester.
Course Requirements
Class preparation and participation: 50% of the final grade
Research Paper and presentation: 50% of the final grade
Course Readings
Course-pack may be available.
Course Schedule
Week 1: Introduction
Week 2: Escalation, Resolution, and Military Forces
Robert Pape, Bombing to Win, Chapter 2 and 3
Daryl Press, “The Myth of Air Power in the Persian Gulf War and the Future of
Warfare,” International Security 26/2 (2001)
Andrew Stigler, “A Clear Victory for Air Power: NATO's Empty Threat to Invade
Kosovo,” International Security 27/3 (2002)
Thomas Risse-Kappens, “Did ‘Peace Through Strength’ End the Cold War?”
International Security 16/1 (1991)
Charles Glaser, “When Are Arms Races Dangerous?” International Security 28/4
(2004)
Week 3: Bargaining While Fighting
Harrison Wagner, “Bargaining and War,” American Journal of Political Science
44/3 (2000)
James Fearon, “Domestic Political Audiences and the Escalation of International
Disputes,” American Political Science Review 88 (September 1994)
Christopher Gelpi, "Crime and Punishment: The Role of Norms in Crisis
Bargaining," American Political Science Review 91 (June 1997)
Robert Powell, “Nuclear Deterrence Theory, Nuclear Proliferation, and National Missile
Defense,” International Security 27/4 (2003)
Week 4: Mediation and Intervention by Third Party
William Dixon,” Third Party Techniques for Preventing Conflict Escalation and
Promoting Peaceful Settlement,” International Organization 50/4 (1996)
Jonathan Wilkenfeld et al., “Mediating International Crises,” Journal of Conflict
Resolution 47/3 (2003)
Barbara Walter and Jack Snyder eds., Civil Wars, Insecurity and Intervention
Chapter 5 and 7
James Fearon and David Laitin, “Neotrusteeship and the Problem of Weak States,”
International Security 28/4 (2003)
Week 5: International Institutions and Economic Sanctions
Beth Simmons, “Capacity, Commitment, and Compliance” Journal of Conflict
Resolution 46/6 (2003)
Virginia Page Fortna, “Scrap of Paper? Agreements and the Durability of Peace,”
International Organization 57/2 (2003)
Robert Keohane, “Legalized Dispute Resolution,” International Organization
54/3 (2000)
Robert Pape, “Why Economic Sanctions Do Not Work?” International Security 22/2
(1997)
Daniel Drezner, “The Hidden Hand of Economic Coercion,” International Organization
57/3 (2003)
Week 6: Political Leaders
Daniel Byman and Kenneth Pollack, “Let Us Now Praise Great Men,” International
Security 25/4 (2001)
Henk Goemans, “Fighting for Survival” Journal of Conflict Resolution 44/5 (2000)
Giacomo Chiozza and Ajin Choi, “Guess Who Did What,” Journal of Conflict
Resolutions 47/1 (2003)
Jacques Hymans, “Why Get the Bomb? How State Leaders’ Psychologies Matter”
(2001)
Week 7: Democratic Peace
Zeev Maoz and Bruce Russet,” Normative and Structural Causes of the
Democratic Peace,” American Political Science Review 87 (September 1993)
Sebastian Rosato, “The Flawed Logic of Democratic Peace Theory ,” American
Political Science Review 97 (2003)
Christopher Gelpi and Joseph Grieco, “Attracting Trouble,” Journal of Conflict
Resolution 45/6 (2001)
Paul Huth and Todd Allee, “Domestic Political Accountability and the Escalation and
Settlement of International Disputes” Journal of Conflict Resolution 46/6
(2003)
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Week 8: Democratic Victory
David Lake, “Powerful Pacifists,” American Political Science Review 86/1
(1992)
Dan Reiter and Allan Stam, “Democracy, War Initiation, and Victory,” American
Political Science Review 92/2 (1998)
Michale Desch, “Democracy and Victory: Why Regime Types Hardly Matters,”
International Security 27/2 (2002)
Ajin Choi, “The Power of Democratic Cooperation,” International Security 28/1 (2003)
Week 9: Midterm Paper / Topics Due
Week 10: New Challenges After Victory
Barry Posen, “The Struggle Against Terrorism,” International Security 26/3 (2001)
Daniel Byman, “Constructing a Democratic Iraq: Challenges and Opportunities”
International Security 28/1 (2003)
David Edelstein, “Occupational Hazards: Why Military Occupations Succeed or Fail”
International Security 29/1 (2004)
Stephen Krasner, “Sharing Sovereignty: New Institutions for Collapsed and Failing
States” International Security 29/2 (2004)
Specific Cases and readings will be announced in class.
Week 11: Case Analysis I
Week 12: Case Analysis II
Week 13: Paper Presentation and Discussion I
Week 14: Paper Presentation and Discussion II
Week 15: Final Exam / Papers Due
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