Electing to Fight: Why Emerging Democracies Go to War (Belfer Center Studies in International Security)

Does the spread of democracy really contribute to international peace?Successive U. S. administrations have justified various policies intended to promotedemocracy not only by arguing that democracy is intrinsically good but by pointingto a wide range of research concluding that democracies rarely, if ever, go to warwith one another. To promote democracy, the United States has provided economicassistance, political support, and technical advice to emerging democracies inEastern and Central Europe, and it has attempted to remove undemocratic regimesthrough political pressure, economic sanctions, and military force. In Electing toFight, Edward Mansfield and Jack Snyder challenge the widely accepted basis of thesepolicies by arguing that states in the early phases of transitions to democracy aremore likely than other states to become involved in war.Drawing on both qualitativeand quantitative analysis, Mansfield and Snyder show that emerging democracies withweak political institutions are especially likely to go to war. Leaders of thesecountries attempt to rally support by invoking external threats and resorting tobelligerent, nationalist rhetoric. Mansfield and Snyder point to this pattern incases ranging from revolutionary France to contemporary Russia. Because the risk ofa state's being involved in violent conflict is high until democracy is fullyconsolidated, Mansfield and Snyder argue, the best way to promote democracy is tobegin by building the institutions that democracy requires -- such as the rule oflaw -- and only then encouraging mass political participation and elections. Readerswill find this argument particularly relevant to prevailing concerns about thetransitional government in Iraq. Electing to Fight also calls into question thewisdom of urging early elections elsewhere in the Islamic world and inChina. To Promote Democracy, The United States Has Provided Economic Assistance, Political Support, And Technical Advice To Emerging Democracies In Eastern And Central Europe, And It Has Attempted To Remove Undemocratic Regimes Through Political Pressure, Economic Sanctions, And Military Force. In Electing To Fight, Edward Mansfield And Jack Snyder Challenge The Widely Accepted Basis Of These Policies By Arguing That States In The Early Phases Of Transitions To Democracy Are More Likely Than Other States To Become Involved In War. Drawing On Both Qualitative And Quantitative Analysis, Mansfield And Snyder Show That Emerging Democracies With Weak Political Institutions Are Especially Likely To Go To War. Leaders Of These Countries Attempt To Rally Support By Invoking External Threats And Resorting To Belligerent, Nationalist Rhetoric. Mansfield And Snyder Point To This Pattern In Cases Ranging From Revolutionary France To Contemporary Russia. Because The Risk Of A State's Being Involved In Violent Conflict Is High Until Democracy Is Fully Consolidated, Mansfield And Snyder Argue, The Best Way To Promote Democracy Requires - Such As The Rule Of Law - And Only Then Encouraging Mass Political Participation And Elections. Readers Will Find This Argument Particularly Relevant To Prevailing Concerns About The U.s. Attempts To Build Democracy In Iraq. Electing To Fight Also Calls Into Question The Wisdom Of Urging Early Elections Elsewhere In The Islamic World And In China.--jacket. The Perilous Path To The Democratic Peace -- Reconciling The Democratic Peace With Accounts Of Democratization And War -- Explaining Turbulent Transitions -- Data And Measures For Testing The Argument -- Democratization And War: Statistical Findings -- Democratizing Dyads And The Outbreak Of War: Statistical Findings -- Democratizing Initiators Of War: Tracing Causal Processes -- Tracing Trajectories Of Democratization And War In The 1990s -- Conclusion: Sequencing The Transition For Peace -- Appendix: Democratizing Countries That Experienced The Outbreak Of External War, 1816-1992. By Edward D. Mansfield And Jack Snyder. Includes Bibliographical References And Indexes.