The Politics of Coercion: Toward a Theory of Coercive Airpower for Post-Cold War Conflict

Abstract

The focus of this thesis is the following research question: What does coercion theory suggest about the use of airpower in post-Cold War conflict? This thesis aims to determine if any of the existing theories of coercion, namely punishment, risk, decapitation, and denial, can stand alone as an adequately coherent, substantive, and codified approach. Three important attributes of conflict in the post-Cold War era, (1) limited, non-protracted war, (2) political restraint, and (3) the importance of the better state of peace, provide a framework for this analysis. If these existing constructs fail the test, the study will investigate the potential content and applicability of a new theory for post-Cold War coercive airpower.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jun 01, 2001
Accession Number
ADA407935

Entities

People

  • Ellwood P. Hinman Iv

Organizations

  • Air University

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical
  • Counter WMD
  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Human Systems
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Aerial Warfare
  • Air Defense
  • Air Force
  • Air Power
  • Contingency Operations (Military)
  • Defense Planning
  • Governments
  • Intergovernmental Organizations
  • International Organizations
  • International Relations
  • Military History
  • Military Operations
  • Military Organizations
  • Military Science
  • Second World War
  • Treaties
  • Warfare

Readers

  • Military History / Militaries and War Studies
  • Strategic Security Studies