Controlling the Skies: Leveraging Airspace as a Foreign Policy Tool

Open skies and deregulated airspace facilitate the seamless global transportation of people and property across borders. The closure of airspace to a particular country negatively impacts both the sender and target. The sender faces reduced revenue from loss of overflight fees and associated airline costs, while a target must reroute, increasing travel time and fuel requirements for the flight. Despite the substantial costs involved, airspace closures still occur. Using a three-case study analysis, this dissertation explores the factors that drive a country to close its airspace, as well as those that shape a target’s behavior when confronted with a closure. This research has implications for scholars seeking to understand non-violent conflict and policymakers seeking to understand when and why states leverage airspace as a foreign policy tool.