Table of Contents

List of Tables 
List of Figures 
List of Maps 

1. Introduction 
International Intervention into Civil Conflicts 
International Rivalry 
Summary of Findings 
Roadmap
 
2. A Theory of Rivalry (Intervention) 
Pathological Rivalry 
Rational Rivalry 
Interpersonal vs. International Rivalry 
Rivalry as "Continuous Negotiation" 
Reputations and Rivalry 
Rivalry under Anarchy and the Search for Security 
Situating the Theory 
A Causal Mechanism Explanation for Rivalry Intervention 
The Case Studies 
Key Terms 
Civil Conflict 
Intervention 
Conclusion 

3. The India-Pakistan Rivalry 
The Nature of the Rivalry 
Crises and Conflict, 1947–2001 
Perceptions in 2001 
The War in Afghanistan 

4. Indian Intervention in Afghanistan 
India in Afghanistan 
Economic Opportunities 
Regional Influence/Global Power Projection 
Security Concerns 
The Rivalry Explanation 

5. Pakistani Intervention in Afghanistan 
Pakistan in Afghanistan 
Pakistan’s Support for the Insurgency 
The Rivalry Explanation 
Possible Alternative Explanations 
Assessing the Interventions 

6. The Syrian-Israeli Rivalry and Intervention in Lebanon  
The Nature of the Rivalry 
Crises and Conflict, 1948–75 
Israeli and Syrian Perceptions in 1975 
Intervention in Lebanon 
Lebanese Civil War, 1975–76 
Syrian Intervention, 1975–76 
Israeli Intervention, 1975–76 
Red-Line Agreement 
Israel and Syria in Lebanon, 1977–81 
Lebanon War (1982–5) 
The Rivalry Explanation 

7. The US-Soviet Rivalry and Intervention in Angola 
The Nature of the Rivalry 
Crises and Conflict, 1947–75 
US and Soviet Perceptions in 1975 
Intervention in Angola 
Angolan Civil War, 1975 
Soviet Intervention in Angola 
US Intervention in Angola 
The Rivalry Explanation 

8. Conclusion 
Summary of Findings 
Theoretical Implications 
Policy Implications
References

About the Author

John Mitton is a research fellow at the Centre for the Study of Security and Development at Dalhousie University.

Reviews

" Why Rivals Intervene neatly explains rival states' competitive interventions in civil conflicts. Carefully researched case studies amply illustrate a straightforward argument about 'rational rivals' driven by perceptions of strategic necessity. Mitton's work provokes debate about international rivalries and contributes to our understanding of regional and great-power competition."--Jonathan M. DiCicco, Professor of Political Science & International Relations, Middle Tennessee State University
"In this well-argued book, John Mitton offers an insightful theory and case studies on why adversaries intervene in third-party civil conflicts and the deeply embedded security considerations deriving from the 'shadow of the future.' A thoughtful work on rivalry, civil wars, and international interventions." --T.V. Paul, James McGill Professor of International Relations, McGill University
" Why Rivals Intervene rigorously demonstrates the importance of reputation in determining why and how great powers become entangled in foreign civil conflicts. John Mitton gives a rich, policy-relevant account of an important pathology that exists within international competition - one that forces us to face an otherwise hidden price for undertaking geopolitical rivalry in the first place."--Van Jackson, Senior Lecturer in International Relations, Victoria University of Wellington