POLSCI 160 Lecture 7: Lecture Seven Notes (1)
Document Summary
They just don"t trust each other there"s probably a reason they don"t. Think about buying a used car, but you have to see the seller again. Inability to enforce can eliminate the zone of agreement. Commitment problems lead to conflict when there are settlements both would prefer to conflict, but one or both believe that the other will act to undermine such a settlement so both prefer war. If commitment issues cause conflict, there"s no zone of agreement. Opinion polls show majority want two state solution, but opinions may be hardening on both sides. Jewish settlements in contested areas to help commit israel to hold the territories. Persuasion/signaling seeks to convince target that threat is credible. Escalation and audience costs are commitment devices as well as signals. Audience cost reduces value for backing down. Each sides effort to convince the other can lead to lock in.
