Overview

Why do democracies win wars? This is a critical question in the study of international relations. A traditional view - expressed most famously by Alexis de Tocqueville - is that democracies craft inferior foreign policy and often fail when fighting wars. In Democracies of War the authors come to a different conclusion. Democracies tend to win the wars they fight - about 80 per cent of the time. Complementing their wide ranging analysis, the authors apply statistical tests and new hypotheses. They pinpoint two reasons for democracies' success at war. First, as elected leaders understand that losing a war can spell domestic political backlash, democracies start only those wars that they are likely to win. Second, the emphasis on individuality in such societies leads their soliders to fight with greater initiative and leadership. Surprisingly, the authors find that it is neither economic muscle nor bandwagoning between democratic powers that enables democracies to win wars. On the whole, they find, democracies dependance on public consent makes for more rather than less effective foreign policy. This book yields insights on security policy, the causes of war, and the interplay betwe

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9780691089485

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Allan C. Stam, Winner in 2004, and Dan Reiter, Winner in 2002, of the Karl Deutsch Award, International Studies Association

The authors deserve much praise for asking questions that go beyond the exploration of 'the causes of war' to examine political dynamics within war, a tremendously neglected subject in political science. They deserve praise for using statistical data and methods in a field dominated by case study analysis. Their book will be widely discussed. --Stephen Rosen, Harvard University This is currently the best book on the security policies of democratic states and the big one everyone concerned with the topic will have to read immediately. It contains the most rigorous logic, the richest set of evidence, and the widest scope. Forceful, accessible, and lively, it will be widely read by international relations scholars and by a broad range of students and policy analysts. --Bruce Russett, Yale University An important and timely book that answers a major question and opens up new avenues of research. --H. E. Goemans, Duke University Allan C. Stam, Winner in 2004, and Dan Reiter, Winner in 2002, of the Karl Deutsch Award, International Studies Association

The authors deserve much praise for asking questions that go beyond the exploration of 'the causes of war' to examine political dynamics within war, a tremendously neglected subject in political science. They deserve praise for using statistical data and methods in a field dominated by case study analysis. Their book will be widely discussed. --Stephen Rosen, Harvard University An important and timely book that answers a major question and opens up new avenues of research. --H. E. Goemans, Duke University This is currently the best book on the security policies of democratic states and the big one everyone concerned with the topic will have to read immediately. It contains the most rigorous logic, the richest set of evidence, and the widest scope. Forceful, accessible, and lively, it will be widely read by international relations scholars and by a broad range of students and policy analysts. --Bruce Russett, Yale University Allan C. Stam, Winner in 2004, and Dan Reiter, Winner in 2002, of the Karl Deutsch Award, International Studies Association

Author Information

Dan Reiter is Associate Professor and Winship Research Professor in the Department of Political Science at Emory University. He is the author of Crucible of Beliefs: Learning, Alliances, and World Wars. Allan C. Stam is Associate Professor of Government and Deputy Director of Academic Programs at Rockefeller Center, Dartmouth College. He is the author of Win, Lose, or Draw; Domestic Politics and the Crucible of War.

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