“Recchia has produced the most careful study of the politics of UN Security Council authorization for the use of force yet written. This book proves that even the world’s most powerful states cannot rely on material leverage alone to win cooperation in that vital forum.”—Benjamin Valentino, Dartmouth College“Recchia provides valuable insights into the strategies major powers employ to secure UN Security Council support for military intervention in the face of strong initial opposition. An excellent contribution to the study of international diplomacy.”—Richard Caplan, Oxford University“Much has been written about why powerful states seek UN Security Council approval for military interventions, and the costs that may accrue if they fail to obtain it. In this well-researched study, Recchia asks a different question: how might they obtain such approval in the face of substantial opposition from one of the veto-wielding members. The four strategies he considers offer valuable insight not only into the dynamics of great power relations, but also how to overcome the debilitating politics that is plaguing an increasingly dysfunctional Council.”—Ian Johnstone, Tufts University