Give Coercive Diplomacy a Chance? The “Ideal Policy" for Coercive Diplomacy Success

Abstract

This thesis examines coercive diplomacy theory by testing P.V. Jakobsen’s conceptual “ideal policy” framework identifying four minimum conditions for coercive diplomacy success. The ideal policy is a parsimonious framework derived to determine the probability for success or explain coercive diplomacy outcomes post hoc.

The aim of the theory- testing is to evaluate if the conceptual framework can explain recent coercive diplomacy outcomes post hoc. The empirical material builds on two American coercive diplomacy attempts directed towards Muammar Gadhafi’s Libya.

The ideal policy conditions also serves as the basis for a comparative analysis of the two cases as stipulated by the structured, focused comparison method.