Publication

This article employs statistical methodology to examine whether the conditions affecting initial expressions of dyadic hostility are similar to those affecting militarized disputes. The authors find that joint democracy, interdependence and economic openness are each more important in reducing the risk of militarized disputes than they are in reducing the risk of conflict in general. They argue that, although conflict suppressors help to restrain conflict at all levels, their impact on states’ unwillingness to escalate to higher levels of hostility is more apparent later in the diplomatic bargaining process after more information has been exchanged.