Arms and Influence (The Henry L. Stimson Lectures Series) [Paperback]

Thomas C. Schelling (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review

“...a brilliant and hardheaded book. It will frighten those who prefer not to dwell on the unthinkable....This book on the diplomacy of violence is a fine example of...the growth of political-military thinking....”–New York Times Book Review --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 303 pages
• Publisher: Yale University Press (September 10, 1967)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0300002211
• ISBN-13: 978-0300002218
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #85,128 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Hard eyed view of bargaining, March 28, 2010

By 

Steven A. Peterson (Hershey, PA (Born in Kewanee, IL)) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Arms and Influence (The Henry L. Stimson Lectures Series) (Paperback)

The focus of the book is put straightforwardly: "To be coercive, violence has to be anticipated. And it has to be avoidable by accommodation. The power to hurt is bargaining power. To exploit it is diplomacy--vicious diplomacy, but diplomacy." This book was first published in 1966 and it is a realpolitik examination of the use of coercive power in diplomacy. Important issues addressed include the centrality of making clear one's commitments, manipulating risk, the use of military action in bargaining. . . .

A classic from the 1960s that can make for uncomfortable reading but which illustrates the hardball conceptualization of what we might term coercive diplomacy.

9 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Getting more valuable with time..., October 29, 2001

By 

edward gresser (Washington, DC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Arms and Influence (The Henry L. Stimson Lectures Series) (Paperback)

... because you can see some of the flaws in retrospect.

Arms & Influence is a little repetitive, but still a fascinating look at the way countries can use war, violence, threats and generally nasty behavior to get what they want. Schelling analyzes war in terms of "bargaining" - i.e. we'll hit you this hard now to show we mean it, and ten times harder if you don't give us what you want next week.

The theory explains a lot - but if you take it too far it can be too clever by half. One of his examples of a precise, well-considered and effective strike intended to deliver a clear message that an adversary would have to recognize is the Johnson Administration's retaliation for the Tonkin Gulf incident. The book was written in early 1965.

11 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent read for anybody, regardless of your field., October 30, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Arms and Influence (The Henry L. Stimson Lectures Series) (Paperback)

I read this book for a political science class in advanced international relations theory. Even considering the topic of the class, I couldn't put this book down. Schelling writes for the average reader on subjects everybody can use in their daily lives, and applies them to international relations. Regardless of your area of study, this book offers something for everybody.