How and Why States Defect from Contemporary Military Coalitions

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xvii

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2. The Puzzle of Coalition “Defection”

   • Kathleen J. McInnis

   Pages 1-25

3. Understanding Contemporary Military Coalitions and Coalition Defection

   • Kathleen J. McInnis

   Pages 27-116

4. Canada in Afghanistan

   • Kathleen J. McInnis

   Pages 117-167

5. The Netherlands in Afghanistan

   • Kathleen J. McInnis

   Pages 169-211

6. Further Applying the Theoretical Framework

   • Kathleen J. McInnis

   Pages 213-236

7. Implications, Reflections, Areas for Further Research

   • Kathleen J. McInnis

   Pages 237-249

8. Back Matter

   Pages 251-302

   PDF

This book identifies contemporary military coalition defections, builds a theoretical framework for understanding why coalition defection occurs and assesses its utility for both the scholarly and policy practitioner communities. Drawing upon the author’s own experiences managing the Afghanistan coalition for the Pentagon, the volume builds a relevant policy and practical understanding of some of the key aspects of contemporary coalition warfare. Ultimately, it concludes that coalition defection is prompted by heightened perceptions of political and military risk.  Yet the choice of how to defect— whether to completely withdraw forces or instead find another, less risky way to participate—is largely a function of international and alliance pressures to remain engaged.

• security studies
• military coalitions
• coalition defection
• military analysis
• NATO studies
• Afghanistan/counterinsurgency studies

“Kathleen J. McInnis has made an obscure topic into a timely study of great strategic importance. All U.S. strategy documents stress the importance of a stronger network of allies and partners. Few scholars have explored how and why partners sign up in collective security agreements, and even fewer have examined the manner in which coalitions dissolve as members opt out. Although McInnis demonstrates strong empirical rigor, this is a highly readable book that leverages her practical experience in the U.S. Defense Department with major policy implications for any major power serious about coalition formation and alliance leadership. How and Why States Defect from Contemporary Military Coalitions is strongly recommended for all graduate security studies program.” (F. G. Hoffman, National Defense University, USA, and Associate Fellow, Royal United Services Institute, UK)

• Congressional Research Service, Washington, DC, USA

  Kathleen J. McInnis

Kathleen J. McInnis is International Security Analyst for the Congressional Research Service and Nonresident Senior Fellow with the Brent Scowcroft Center on International Security, USA.

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