Reading Henriksen's "Inflexible Response," re: Kosovo 1999, argues that to maintain alliance credibility began to drive the mission more than the original political object. Rings true to American War in Vietnam. Is there a poli sci lit on a "Credibility trap"?
There ought to be! As I noted on the blog (https://acoup.blog/2019/12/05/collections-a-trip-through-thucydides-fear-honor-and-interest/ …) 'credibility' or 'reputation' is what Thucydides means when he talks about 'honor' as 1of the 3great motivations. So this is not new! And a 'credibility trap' is a great way to frame Sparta's impetus for war.
