Graduate Program

Political Science

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Semester of Degree Completion

2009

Thesis Director

Ryan Hendrickson

Thesis Committee Member

Jeff Ashley

Thesis Committee Member

David Carwell

Abstract

This thesis seeks to test the utility of the Jentleson and Whytock (2006) model, which stems from their study of U.S. foreign policy with Libya. Their study established a model of foreign policy coercion, which they maintain helps explain why Libyan foreign policy changed so radically during the presidency of George W. Bush. The model is applied to American policy, implemented from the Carter administration to that of George W. Bush, towards Iran, Burma (Myanmar) and North Korea. The coercive strategies used by each administration are compared against the prescription and projection purported by the model in order to determine if it accurately predicts the success or failure of past policy and thus, offers predictable utility for projecting future outcomes for foreign policy. The findings indicate that the model has some utility and largely explains success or failure in past American coercion towards Iran, Burma and North Korea. It neglects, however, particular mitigating external factors which were evident in some coercion cases, as well as unique internal characteristics of other states that may either enhance or inhibit the effectiveness of prescribed coercive strategies in achieving future diplomatic goals.

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