New Books in Political Science Gustav Meibauer, "The No-Fly Zone in US Foreign Policy: The Curious Persistence of a Flawed Instrument" (Policy Press, 2025)
Oct 13, 2025
Gustav Meibauer, an assistant professor of international relations and author of a new book on no-fly zones, dives into the persistence of this controversial U.S. foreign policy tool. He explores why these zones are often favored despite their spotty results and analyzes key historical cases in Iraq, Bosnia, and Libya. Meibauer reveals how domestic politics and election considerations shape decisions about foreign interventions, with no-fly zones used more as political signals than effective solutions. He also discusses future implications amid global tensions.
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No-Fly Zones As Political Band-Aids
- No-fly zones are often political solutions rather than military fixes.
- Gustav Meibauer argues they function to make political problems 'go away' rather than manage conflict effectively.
Why Leaders Reach For Quick Fixes
- Neoclassical realism links external pressures with internal debates to explain policy choice.
- Meibauer shows contested elite perceptions and domestic politics shape why incremental tools like no-fly zones are chosen.
How The First No-Fly Zone Arose
- The 1991 Iraqi no-fly zone emerged as a quick response to postwar Kurdish massacres and media pressure.
- Meibauer notes it relieved domestic pressure but produced limited on-the-ground protection.
