A pdf of my manuscript with Andrew P. Owsiak, "The Diffusion of International Border Agreements," is now available on my Research page, along with the article's online appendices and replication data. The article is forthcoming at the Journal of Politics. Here is the abstract: Can actors’ interactions affect similar, future interactions between those initial actors and others? We investigate this broad question through the lens of international border agreements. In particular, we propose that border agreements can emerge through a previously overlooked mechanism: diffusion. Because border territory is salient, leaders are expected to misrepresent their positions and therefore have difficulty credibly conveying information to their counterpart. To overcome this problem, actors require a costly signal, and we argue that border agreements can serve this purpose. When a state signs a border agreement with a neighboring state, it signals to its other neighbors about both the existence of a bargaining range and the potentially acceptable provisions, thereby helping these other neighbors successfully conclude border agreements with the original signatory states. An analysis of all contiguous dyads during the period 1816-2001 uncovers substantial support for our argument.
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AuthorK. Chad Clay ArchivesCategories |
K. Chad Clay
Associate Professor Department of International Affairs School of Public and International Affairs The University of Georgia Candler Hall Athens, GA 30602-1492 Email: [email protected] Office: 329 Candler Hall Office Phone: 706-542-9810 |