Caught Red-Handed: How States Wield Proof to Coerce Wrongdoers

Summary

States frequently acquire proof that other states have violated norms. Yet, existing theories do not fully explain how states that catch others red-handed use such proof to coerce wrongdoers. Four case studies of nuclear proliferation—Taiwan, Libya, South Africa, and North Korea—probe a novel theory of how discoverers may conceal proof of wrongdoing, share such proof with other actors privately, or reveal their proof to the world. These cases illustrate how coercive power affects states’ decision-making regarding use of proof.