James Cable on gunboat diplomacy and limited force

The maritime sphere remains contested in peace because national maritime claims coexist with international passage rights. James Cable's Gunboat Diplomacy examines the use of limited naval force within that setting. Better defensive weapons and political resistance can make a visible warship less intimidating and force an intervening navy to deploy more ships. Cable nevertheless argues that limited force remains possible between nuclear war and prolonged guerrilla conflict. Economic pressure can be bypassed, irregular forces can escape their sponsor's control, and ground or air intervention can demand an immediate commitment to violence. Warships can assemble at sea, approach a coast, and withdraw more readily if an intervention goes wrong. Escort, interception, blockade, surveillance, and harassment provide different ways to apply pressure before committing to a larger conflict.