What are the conditions for a threat to be effective? In what ways can a threat issued by one state another be made credible? What is the role of commitments in international bargaining? How ca compliance with international treaties be explained? Can treaties be designed to ensure compliance?

Organised in three parts, and using modern game theory as an analytical tool, this book analyses the difficult art of commitment in international relations. Part I considers interstate threats; Part II considers commitments in international bargaining; and Part III focuses on compliance with international treaties. Throughout the book, rigorous theoretical exposition is combined with empirical examples stemming from topical current events.

Game-theoretic concepts are introduced by the author in a simple and intuitive way, requiring no prior knowledge of game theory.