| ID | 161326 |
| Title Proper | When conquest would have paid |
| Other Title Information | domestic mobilization and political constraints in the Thai-Cambodian border conflict 2008–2011 |
| Language | ENG |
| Author | Jenne, Nicole |
| Summary / Abstract (Note) | In recent decades, a lack of state capacity has been seen as a major threat to international security. This article disagrees by making a simple claim: states that lack the capacity to go to war compromise to avoid it. I develop the argument using insights from the discipline of International Relations and military studies and probe its plausibility with a single case study, the Thai-Cambodian border conflict during 2008–2011. Based on data from field research in the two countries, I use Peter Liberman's framework to argue that this is a case when conquest would have paid for Thailand. Yet, a lack of domestic capacity created trade-offs, fear of instability and reduced confidence in a military strategy, which together explain why large-scale armed conflict was avoided by both sides. The findings have potential implications for how we think about international security today. |
| `In' analytical Note | Global Change Peace and Security Vol. 30, No.1; Feb 2018: p.17-36 |
| Journal Source | Global Change Peace and Security Vol: 30 No 1 |
| Key Words | Border Dispute ; Thailand ; Cambodia ; Interstate Conflict ; State capacity |