Channels of Power

Thompson surveys U.S. policy toward Iraq, starting with the Gulf War, continuing through the interwar years of sanctions and coercive disarmament, and concluding with the 2003 invasion and its long aftermath.

Alexander Thompson is Associate Professor of Political Science at The Ohio State University.

Thompson's books adds to the small but growing body of work addressing why powerful countries would channel foreign policies through IOs. A major strength of Channels of Power is that it pays serious attention to theory development, generating falsifiable hypotheses about state behavior and international reaction to activity at the Security Council. Channels of Power is very well written and researched and its an important contribution to the literature on international organizations and security policy.

Lisa Martin, author of Democratic Commitments: Legislatures and International Cooperation:

Alexander Thompson has crafted an original and penetrating analysis of the UN Security Council, of U.S. policy toward Iraq, and of the informational role of international organizations more generally. Much of the political science literature regards IOs as sources of information, yet remains vague about what information they might provide or under what conditions they can do so effectively. Thompson argues that neutral IOs provide information about the intentions and likely effects of states who are contemplating the use of military force. In his novel vision, IOs can be both neutral and facilitators of coercion. This book should be read by all scholars of international institutions as well as those interested in the Security Council and in recent U.S. foreign policy.

Robert O. Keohane, Professor of International Affairs, Woodrow Wilson School of International and Public Affairs, Princeton University:

Channels of Power makes a major contribution by showing how international organizations provide informative signals to states with respect to coercive foreign policy actions. It deserves the attention of all students of world politics.