2006 Conference Program - Midwest Political Science Association

PaperPaperPaperDisc."works," a state may exhibit pathological behavior such asimperial overstretch.Knowing When to Fold: How Military and CivilianCasualties Affect the Decision to End the WarSarah E. Croco, University of Michigan, Ann ArborOverview: Using new data on military and civilian losses I testseveral hypotheses of the proposed relationships between costsand war termination.After the Rally: The Domestic Politics of Fighting andEnding WarsThomas M. Dolan, The Ohio State UniversityOverview: This paper investigates how publics respond to newinformation about war, and how and when these dynamicresponses affect inter-state war bargaining processes.How Domestic Factors Affect Conflict Behavior ofDemocratic CountriesWanfa Zhang, University of AlabamaJun Wei, University of AlabamaOverview: This research is a test of the diversionary theory ofwar with a brand-new data set and method. Different from mostprevious works that covers only a limited number of democraticcountries, this paper will cover all democratic states soclassified.Adam J. Berinsky, Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyDevra C. Moehler, Cornell University15-7 STRATEGIC ANALYSIS OFINTERVENTIONRoomChairPaperPaperPaperDisc.TBA, Sat 1:45 pmMarc Kilgour, Wilfrid Laurier UniversityMilitary Intervention, Rebel Strength, and the Outcome ofCivil ConflictsStephen E. Gent, University of North Carolina, Chapel HillOverview: Since interveners want to impact the outcomes ofcivil conflicts, interventions will be more likely when there is astrong rebel group. Given that government-biased third partiesintervene in tougher cases, empirically they appear be lesseffective.Rivalry Processes: An Explanation for theInternationalization of Civil WarKris G. Pence, Indiana Wesleyan UniversityOverview: The paper argues rivalry processes provide a strongexplanatory framework for explaining the internationalization ofcivil war as well as providing insight in to the type of assistanceoffered and the target of aid.The Strategic Dynamics of Third-Party InterventionAmy Yuen, Emory UniversityOverview: This paper examines the strategic dynamics ofintervention in international conflict. Using a formal model thatincludes three strategic actors, I develop expectations overconflict onset, duration and participation.Marc Kilgour, Wilfrid Laurier University15-17 TERRITORY AND CONFLICTRoomChairPaperPaperTBA, Sat 1:45 pmDaniel Morey, University of IowaTerritory and Conflict: Strategic Consolidation of DisputedTerritoryDavid B. Carter, University of RochesterOverview: I argue that territorial disputes are more likely to endviolently relative to other disputes (e.g., trade disputes) becauseterritory itself can be strategically consolidated during thedispute process, which alters the expected outcome.The Steps to Interstate War in AfricaBrandon G. Valeriano, University of Illinois, ChicagoDouglas Gibler, University of KentuckyOverview: An examination of the steps taken prior to theEthiopian-Somalian War, the Ugandan-Tanzanian War, and therecent Congo War will be analyzed to determine common anddivergent power politics patterns in the onset of warfare.PaperPaperDisc.Territorial Dispute MIDs: Costly Signals of Resolve forOther DisputesKrista E. Wiegand, Georgia Southern UniversityOverview: This paper addresses the timing of MIDs in territorialdisputes. I hypothesize that a challenger state is more likely toinitiate a MID when it can achieve bargaining leverage in otherdisputes.Neighborhood Effects and the Generation of InternationalConflict HotspotsAlex Braithwaite, Pennsylvania State UniversityOverview: This paper identifies the causes of conflict hot spots.States in democratic neighborhoods, that are well integrated inthe global economy are shown to be significantly less likely tobecome located in hot spots of international conflict.Daniel Morey, University of Iowa16-201 INFORMAL ROUNDTABLE: CHINESEFOREIGN POLICYRoom TBA, Sat 1:45 pmPresenter Getting China Wrong: Denaturalizing the Revisionist-Status-Quo DiscourseJing Tao, Cornell UniversityOverview: This paper denaturalizes the revisionist-status-quodiscourse in analyzing the Sino-US relations and concludes thatthe strategic interactions between the two powers in East Asia isto provide public good to the region rather than zero-sum innature.Presenter China's Strategic and Economic Goals in Latin America andCentral AsiaKathleen M. Appenrodt, University of California, IrvineOverview: This paper is a comparative study examining China'sforeign policy in both Latin America and Central Asia. Itexamines the economic and strategic ties China has pursued inboth regions.17-9 THE FUTURE OF INTERNATIONAL LAWRoomChairPaperPaperPaperPaperDisc.TBA, Sat 1:45 pmMark Sachleben, Miami UniversityWhy Do They Return? Evaluating International Tribunalfor Former Yugoslavia's Contribution to the Reconciliationof VictimsMonika A. Nalepa, Rice UniversityOverview: I analyze the relationship between transitional justice(indictments, trials and sentences of the ICTY) andreconciliation (operationalized as refugee returns of differentethnic groups at the municipal level in Bosnia and Herzegovinaover 12 years).The Informalization of Interstate WarTanisha Fazal, Columbia UniversityOverview: This paper explores the causes of the decline in theuse of formal declarations of war to intitiate interstate wars, andin the use of formal peace treaties to conclude interstate wars.The analysis is based on an original data set on war initiation.Adjudication Among Peoples: A Deliberative DemocraticAlternativeRobert V. Bartlett, Purdue UniversityWalter F. Baber, California State University, Long BeachOverview: Critique of international legal tribunals regardingpossible obstacles to globalization of deliberative democracy. Aproposed alternative to the creation of international legal normsbased on the theories of contemporary deliberative democrats.Measuring Time in Meters: A New Standard for CriticisingInternational LawNathan D. Griffith, Belmont UniversityOverview: Critics misapprehend the nature of the internationallaw, criticizing it ineffectively as a result. Measuring it againstthe appropriate type of legal system produces more effectiveanalysis, removing the disconnect between theory and practice.Mark Sachleben, Miami University222