Analysing coalition warfare from the intra-alliance politics perspective : the Normandy campaign 1944

Wilkins, TS

Abstract

This article sets forth a framework for analysis designed to enhance our understanding of the political management of coalition warfare. The framework, based upon literature appertaining to 'intra-alliance politics' and International Relations (IR) theories, is applied to the case study of the Normandy Campaign of 1944. Utilising this framework we are able to consider many of the thorny issues of coalition politics and determine how these can be managed successfully to maintain Allied cohesion. Throughout the analysis the merits of the 'realist' and 'pluralist' views on maintaining Allied cohesion are appraised. The article concludes that, while both afford convincing explanations for overcoming tensions within the coalition, the pluralist approach proves superior in accounting for Allied unity. Overall, the article demonstrates that the intra-alliance politics framework is a useful device for understanding the political dynamics of the Normandy Campaign in 1944 and that it is also potentially applicable to other instances of coalition warfare; past, present, and future.

Citation

Wilkins, T. (2006). Analysing coalition warfare from the intra-alliance politics perspective : the Normandy campaign 1944. Journal of Strategic Studies, 29(6), 1121-1150. https://doi.org/10.1080/01402390601016592

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: Dec 1, 2006
• Deposit Date: Jan 22, 2009
• Journal: Journal of Strategic Studies
• Print ISSN: 0140-2390
• Publisher: Routledge
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 29
• Issue: 6
• Pages: 1121-1150
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/01402390601016592
• Publisher URL: http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/01402390601016592