interstate war
a war in which the main participants are states
civil war
a war in which the main participants are within the same state, such as the government and a rebel group
security dilemma
happens when a country defends itself, causing others to feel less secure
crisis bargaining
a bargaining interaction in which at least one actor threatens to use force in the even demands are not met
coercive diplomacy
the use of threats to advance specific demands in bargaining interaction
bargaining range
the set of deals that both parties in a bargaining interaction prefer over the reversion outcome
compellence
an effort to change the status quo through the threat of force
deterrence
an effort to preserve the status quo through the threat of force
incomplete information
a situation in which actors in a strategic interaction lack info about other actors interests and their capabilities
resolve
the willingness of an actor to endure costs in order to acquire a particular good
credibility
a credible threat is a threat that the target believed will be carried out. A credible commitment or promise that the recipient believes will be honored
brinkmanship
a strategy in which adversaries take actions that increase the risk of accidental war, with the hope that the other will blink and make first concessions
audience cost
negative repercussions for failing to follow through on a threat on a threat or to honor a commitment
preventative war
a war fought with the intention of preventing an adversary from becoming stronger in the future
first-strike advantage
the situation arises when military technology, military strategies, geography give a significant advantage to whichever state attacks first in war
preemptive war
a war fought with the anticipation that an attack by the other side is imminent
indivisible good
a good that cannot be divided without destroying its value
