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Who Gets Smart? Explaining How Precision Bombs Proliferate

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  • Lauren Kahn
  • Michael C. Horowitz

Abstract

Smart weapons represent a key element of military power for countries around the world, and nothing symbolizes them more than smart bombs—the guided aerial bombs that the United States debuted in the Vietnam War. Yet, international relations scholars know little about these weapons and what explains their proliferation. In this paper, we theorize about the key drivers of smart bomb proliferation, including an interaction between the security environment, regime type, and the interest of states in precision to help them follow the law of war. We then introduce a new dataset on smart bombs from 1960-2017. The results show that internal and external security threats make countries more likely to acquire smart bombs. These effects interact with regime type and whether countries are more likely to ratify treaties related to the law of war. GDP per capita and economic capacity also appears fundamental to explaining smart bomb adoption.

Suggested Citation

  • Lauren Kahn & Michael C. Horowitz, 2023. "Who Gets Smart? Explaining How Precision Bombs Proliferate," Journal of Conflict Resolution, Peace Science Society (International), vol. 67(1), pages 3-37, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:jocore:v:67:y:2023:i:1:p:3-37
    DOI: 10.1177/00220027221111143
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Christopher Zorn, 2001. "Estimating between‐ and within‐cluster covariate effects, with an application to models of international disputes," International Interactions, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 27(4), pages 433-445, June.
    2. Carter, David B. & Signorino, Curtis S., 2010. "Back to the Future: Modeling Time Dependence in Binary Data," Political Analysis, Cambridge University Press, vol. 18(3), pages 271-292, July.
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    Cited by:

    1. Michael C Horowitz & Joshua A Schwartz, 2025. "To compete or strategically retreat? The global diffusion of reconnaissance strike," Journal of Peace Research, Peace Research Institute Oslo, vol. 62(4), pages 847-862, July.

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