Diplomacy, security, and the “Art of Coercion”

Diplomacy, security, and the “Art of Coercion”

Author: The Watson School August 27, 2025 Duration: 47:48

In his new book “The Art of Coercion,” Watson political scientist Reid Pauly provides a seemingly straightforward definition of coercion: “The practice of convincing a target by the use of threats, to bend to your will.”

However, the simplicity of the definition belies the difficulty of doing it effectively – especially in the world of international security and relations. As Pauly explains to Dan Richards on this episode of “Trending Globally”:

“The history of coercive bargaining, coercive diplomacy is really a litany of mostly failures.”  

This is a problem not only for countries seeking to coerce others, whether it’s through tariffs, sanctions, or threats of military action. It’s also a problem because when coercion fails, countries usually find themselves one step closer to war. 

Why do so many attempts at coercive diplomacy fail, and why do some succeed? The answer may surprise you. 

Learn more about and purchase “The Art of Coercion”

Read Pauly’s July article in MIT’s International Security 


From the Watson School at Brown University, Trending Globally: Politics and Policy brings the insights of leading scholars and practitioners directly into your ears. This award-winning podcast digs into the complex forces shaping our world, moving beyond headlines to understand the deeper political and policy decisions behind them. Each conversation is designed to unpack a pressing issue-whether it's international trade tensions, public health crises, or social movements-with clarity and depth. You'll hear experts from the Watson Institute and beyond explain not just what's happening, but why it matters and how different policies might change the course of events. The discussions are grounded in rigorous research yet remain accessible, turning daunting global topics into understandable and engaging dialogue. For anyone curious about the mechanics of power, governance, and societal change, this series offers a vital resource. It’s a direct line to some of the sharpest minds in international and public affairs, all within a format that fits into your daily routine. Find Trending Globally: Politics and Policy and add it to your listening rotation for a consistently informative perspective on the stories that define our time.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Trending Globally: Politics and Policy
Podcast Episodes
Can Democracy “Deliver the Goods”? Lessons from Kerala, India [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:46
If asked to think of parts of the world that have made impressive progress in social measures like literacy rates, life expectancy and infant mortality rates over the last century, you might first imagine a small, afflue…
The New Psychology of Nuclear Brinkmanship [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:30
January 24th, 2023 marked an unsettling milestone: the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists moved the ‘Doomsday Clock’ forward to 90 seconds to midnight – the closest it’s been to ‘Doomsday’ since the clock was established…
What Happens When a Prison Comes to Town [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:31
In 2007, Watson Professor John Eason moved with his family from Chicago to Forest City, Arkansas. At the time Eason was getting his PhD at the University of Chicago, and he moved to Forest City to learn about America’s m…
How to De-Escalate the War in Ukraine [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:36
2022 is coming to a close, but one of the most consequential events of the last year continues unabated: the War in Ukraine. As we approach the one-year mark of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, experts and casual observers…
The Historic Opportunities and Challenges for a Post-Bolsonaro Brazil [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:10
On October 30, 2022, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva – known by most simply as Lula – defeated Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro in a runoff election.On Lula's agenda: rebuild Brazil’s social safety net, restore the country’s…
Ambassador Suzi LeVine on the Unsung Power of the States [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:54
This year’s US midterm elections were as consequential as any in recent history. But it’s not just the headline-grabbing national races for Congress that will reshape the country in the coming years. There were also thou…
What Does “Hispanic Heritage” Mean in 2022? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:03
To mark the end of Hispanic Heritage Month, Trending Globally teamed up with the Watson Institute’s Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies to explore the breadth of ‘Hispanic Heritage’ in 2022. In the first part…