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Thesis Information
Title: Treaty Wars And Executive Unilateralism
Program: Master of Arts in History
Advisor: Dr. Lisa Brady, History
Committee Members: Dr. David Walker, History and Dr. Nick Miller, History
Abstract
This thesis examines the expansion of presidential power during the Cold War through the lens of International Treaty Organizations (ITOs), using the Korean War as a case study. ITOs enabled US presidents, beginning with Truman, to engage in military conflicts devoid of the traditionally required congressional approval, thereby transforming the nature of American diplomacy and elevating executive authority. By leveraging US obligations to the United Nations treaty, Truman set a precedent for unilateral military action under the aegis of international peacekeeping. Politicians attempted to restrict the president’s authority to wage war in Korea, culminating in the introduction of the Bricker Amendment. Despite these efforts, they ultimately failed, allowing Truman’s newly established diplomatic framework to persist. This study fills the gap in existing scholarship by elevating the critical and undervalued role of ITOs in facilitating the shift in executive power.