About the Author

Amy Oakes is Assistant Professor of Political Science at the College of William and Mary. In 2009-2010, she was a research fellow at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

Reviews

"Focusing on decision making by various leadership groups, [Oakes] seeks to put international conflict on a spectrum of other alternatives concurrently available to leaders ... [T]he work assertively concludes that 'interstate wars are an ineffectual strategy for managing internal instability while conflicts short of war are counterproductive.' Recommended." - C. Potholm II, CHOICE "Oakes presents an innovative theoretical synthesis that has real explanatory power. She then tests it with quantitative and qualitative methods that are exemplars of multi-method research. The result is a book that deserves a wide audience in the field." - Jeffrey Pickering, Professor of Political Science, Kansas State University "Diversionary force remains a key debate in international relations. Oakes adds compelling new theory and findings to the topic. She finds that diversionary force is less suited to quelling domestic unrest than domestic policies that address the economy. The richness of the book is also enhanced by covering decision making analysis." - Karl DeRouen Jr., Professor, Department of Political Science, The University of Alabama