Fighting for Credibility: US Reputation and International Politics

by Frank P Harvey, John Mitton

When Bashar al-Assad used chemical weapons against his own people in Syria, he clearly crossed President Barack Obama's "red line." At the time, many argued that the president had to bomb in order to protect America's reputation for toughness, and therefore its credibility, abroad; others countered that concerns regarding reputation were overblown, and that reputations are irrelevant for coercive diplomacy.

Whether international reputations matter is the question at the heart of Fighting for Credibility. For skeptics, past actions and reputations have no bearing on an adversary's assessment of credibility; power and interests alone determine whether a threat is believed. Using a nuanced and sophisticated theory of rational deterrence, Frank P. Harvey and John Mitton argue the opposite: ignoring reputations sidesteps important factors about how adversaries perceive threats. Focusing on cases of asymmetric US encounters with smaller powers since the end of the Cold War including Bosnia, Kosovo, Iraq, and Syria, Harvey and Mitton reveal that reputations matter for credibility in international politics. This dynamic and deeply documented study successfully brings reputation back to the table of foreign diplomacy.

312 pages, Paperback

Published December 27, 2016

Reviews

[Ilana · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very detailed anaylsis which takes into consideration realistic and analytic approaches vs. media opinions and accusations. It helps to see the nuances and clarify the circumstances. In a post-Cold War foreign policy, it is very important to realize the new mindset which applies not only to the US, but to the overall international context and relations.
Disclaimer: Book offered by the publisher in exchange for an honest review