2015/12/27 by Michael C. Horowitz, Paul Poast, Allan C. Stam · 1 citation
Economics, Econometrics and Finance · Social Sciences · #Defense, Military, and Policy Studies #Economic Policies and Impacts #Culture, Economy, and Development Studies
paper · doi:10.1177/0022002715612576
We provide a new perspective on how domestic factors shape the prospects for international cooperation. Internal arms, specifically conscription, signal a willingness and suitability to be a dependable ally. Possessing ineffective military forces inhibits a state’s ability to assist prospective allies and renders a state less able to deter threats on its own. This exemplifies an instance where the trade-off between arms and allies does not apply. Using new data on the military recruitment policies of states since 1816, we find that adopting a conscription-based recruitment system in the previous five years makes a state more likely to form an alliance in the current year, even when accounting for a heightened threat environment.