Articles
Does Coercive Bombing Work?
Air power is a relatively new feature of warfare. Conversely, military coercion, actions to force an adversary to change its behavior short of full-scale war, is as old as history itself. Coercion is a tool of statecraft that offers the benefits of winning a war without incurring the costs. The rise of air power has arguably increased the attractiveness of coercive statecraft, especially for wealthy democratic states that are concerned about casualties. Coercive bombing is viewed as a low cost, low commitment tool for achieving foreign policy objectives.
November 3, 2026


