When Democracies Choose War (Hardback)

What is going on domestically when democracies choose war? Why do some wars of choice generate political opposition while others don’t? Is there an internal mechanism that constrains the behavior of democracies when it comes to war? To answer these questions, Andrew Katz explores the relationship between public support for wars of choice and democratic norms in the marketplace of ideas.

With extensive empirical evidence ranging from the French war in Indochina after World War II to “Operation Iraqi Freedom,” Katz provides new insights on the domestic sources of foreign policy, and especially on the role of public opinion in the decision to go to war.

Contents:
Democracies, Wars of Choice, and the Marketplace of Ideas.France’s Effort to Retain Indochina.Richard Nixon's Pursuit of "Peace with Honor" in Vietnam.Britain's War to Retake the Falklands.Israel's 1982 War to "Secure Peace in the Galilee."Marketing "Operation Iraqi Freedom."Toward a Better Understanding of Democracies at War.