Online: James Morrow - The Domestic Foundations of International Law: Non-Intervention versus Territorial Integrity

The UN Charter and the Covenant of the League of Nations sought to legalize norms of territorial integrity and non-intervention. The growth of the size of domestic winning coalitions over time resulting from the decline of traditional systems, the spread of democracy, and the expansion of suffrage reduced incentives for territorial expansion and increased the motivation to remove rival leaders in violent conflicts. Efforts to legalize territorial integrity succeeded as a result, while non-intervention failed. States with large winning coalitions were less likely to contest territory after these treaties, but there was no change in how often states sought to change the regimes of other states through violence. After these treaties, more third parties responded to territorial violations by states with small winning coalitions. This change was largest for third parties with a large winning coalition. All states became less willing to intervene against violations of non-intervention.

About the presenter:

James Morrow's research addresses theories of international politics, both their logical development and empirical testing. He pioneered the application of noncooperative game theory from economics to international politics. His published work covers crisis bargaining, the causes of war, military alliances, arms races, power transition theory, links between international trade and conflict, the role of international institutions, and domestic politics and foreign policy. Professor Morrow has written three books, Order within Anarchy, The Logic of Political Survival, co-authored with Bruce Bueno de Mesquita, Alastair Smith, Randolph M. Siverson, and Game Theory for Political Scientists. He has also published over 30 articles in refereed journals and over 30 other papers and book chapters. Professor Morrow is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. He received the Karl Deutsch Award from the International Studies Association in 1994. Morrow was President of the Peace Science Society in 2008-2009 and has held fellowships from the Social Science Research Council and the Hoover Institution. He served on the National Science Foundation Advisory Panel for Political Science from 1995-1997.