Bilateral agreements between states: border delimitation agreements

Andrew P. Owsiak and Douglas B. Atkinson

Chapter 4 in Handbook on the Politics of International Agreements, 2026, pp 62-81 from Edward Elgar Publishing

Abstract: This chapter examines the process through which bilateral agreements emerge, focusing on the delimitation of interstate borders. It first discusses the wide range of conflict management tools available to states during this process. The empirical evidence shows that states engaged in border delimitation generally prefer bilateral negotiation to alternative mechanisms, while theoretical arguments explain why this tendency arises. The chapter then presents a theoretical model of bilateral negotiations over interstate borders—from the initiation of talks to the movement toward a border agreement and, ultimately, the implementation of any accord reached. This model integrates both the incentives to delimit borders and the bargaining obstacles that hinder negotiated settlements. Finally, the chapter concludes by highlighting key factors that shape border delimitation negotiations, including (ir)rational decision-making, relative power, issue salience, norms, domestic politics, and the influence of third parties. In exploring these factors, it also identifies promising avenues for future research.

Keywords: Interstate Borders; Bargaining; Norms; Domestic Politics; Conflict Management; Territorial Conflict (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
ISBN: 9781035318582
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