Jeffrey S. Lantis Book order

Arms and Influence explores the complex relationship between technology, policymaking, and international norms. Modern technological innovations such as the atomic bomb, armed unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and advanced reconnaissance satellites have fostered debates about the boundaries of international norms and legitimate standards of behavior. These advances allow governments new opportunities for action around the world and have, in turn, prompted a broader effort to redefine international standards in areas such as self-defense, sovereignty, and preemptive strikes. In this book, Jeffrey S. Lantis develops a new theory of norm change and identifies its stages, including redefinition (involving domestic political deliberations) and constructive norm substitution (in multilateral institutions). He deftly takes some of the most controversial new developments in military technologies and embeds them in international relations theory. The case evidence he presents suggests that periods of change are underway across numerous different issue areas.

Between 1949 and 1990, the Federal Republic of Germany pursued one of the most consistent foreign policy patterns of any Western power. This volume examines continuity and change in German foreign policy in the decade since unification.

The book examines the tension between elite commitments to international cooperation and domestic political constraints that can lead to unexpected defections from agreements. It critiques Robert Putnam's two-level game model, arguing it inadequately explains these defections. Instead, a new framework is proposed, highlighting how domestic factors during the ratification process influence foreign policy-making and affect adherence to international commitments. This perspective sheds light on the complexities of international relations and the impact of domestic politics.