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The Insiders' Game: How Elites Make War and Peace

Online ISBN:
9780691215822
Print ISBN:
9780691215815
Publisher:
Princeton University Press
Book

The Insiders' Game: How Elites Make War and Peace

Elizabeth N. Saunders
Elizabeth N. Saunders

Professor of Political Science

Columbia University
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Published online:
19 September 2024
Published in print:
26 March 2023
Online ISBN:
9780691215822
Print ISBN:
9780691215815
Publisher:
Princeton University Press

Abstract

One of the most widely held views of democratic leaders is that they are cautious about using military force because voters can hold them accountable, ultimately making democracies more peaceful. How, then, are leaders able to wage war in the face of popular opposition, or end conflicts when the public still supports them? This book sheds light on this enduring puzzle, arguing that the primary constraints on decisions about war and peace come from elites, not the public. The book focuses on three groups of elites—presidential advisers, legislators, and military officials—to show how the dynamics of this insiders' game are key to understanding the use of force in American foreign policy. It explores how elite preferences differ from those of ordinary voters, and how leaders must bargain with elites to secure their support for war. The book provides insights into why leaders start and prolong conflicts the public do not want, but also demonstrates how elites can force leaders to change course and end wars. Tracing presidential decisions about the use of force from the Cold War through the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the book reveals how the elite politics of war are a central feature of democracy. It shifts the focus of democratic accountability from the voting booth to the halls of power.

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