Power and Military Effectiveness; the Fallacy of Democratic Triumphalism (2008)

Since 1815 democratic states have emerged victorious from most wars, leading many scholars to conclude that democracies are better equipped to triumph in armed conflict with autocratic and other non-representative governments. Political scientist Michael C. Desch argues that the evidence and logic of that supposition, which he terms "democratic triumphalism," are as flawed as the arguments for the long-held and opposite belief that democracies are inherently disadvantaged in international relations. Through comprehensive statistical analysis, a thorough review of two millennia of international relations thought, and in-depth case studies of modern-era military conflicts, Desch finds that the problems that persist in prosecuting wars—from building up and maintaining public support to holding the military and foreign policy elites in check—remain constant regardless of any given state’s form of government. In assessing the record, he finds that military effectiveness is almost wholly reliant on the material assets that a state possesses and is able to mobilize. Power and Military Effectiveness is an instructive reassessment of the increasingly popular belief that military success is one of democracy’s many virtues. International relations scholars, policy makers, and military minds will be well served by its lessons. "Since 1815 democratic states have emerged victorious from most wars, leading many scholars to conclude that democracies are better equipped to triumph in armed conflict with autocratic and other non-representative governments" "Political scientist Michael C. Desch argues that the evidence and logic of the supposition, which he terms "democratic triumphalism," are as flawed as the arguments for the long-held belief that democracies are inherently disadvantaged in international relations. Through comprehensive statistical analysis, a thorough review of two millennia of international relations and thought, and in-depth case-studies of modern-era military conflict, Desch finds that the problems that persist in prosecuting wars - from building up and maintaining support to holding up and the military and foreign policy elites in check - remain constant regardless of any given form of government." "Power and Military Effectiveness is an instructive reassessment of the increasingly popular belief that military success is one of democracy's many virtues. International relations scholars, policy makers, and military minds will be well served by its lessons."--BOOK JACKET. Contents 8 Acknowledgments 10 Introduction 14 1 Democracy and Victory: Why Democracy Is Not a Liability 21 2 Democracy and Victory: Why Regime Type Hardly Matters 38 3 Democracy and the Russo-Polish War 83 4 Democracy and Israel’s Military Effectiveness 108 5 Democracy and Britain’s Victory in the Falklands War 157 6 If Not Democracy, Then What? 182 Notes 198 Index 240 A 240 B 240 C 240 D 241 E 241 F 241 G 241 H 242 I 242 J 242 K 242 L 242 M 243 N 243 O 243 P 243 R 243 S 244 T 244 U 244 V 244 W 245 Y 245 Z 245 Democracy and victory : why democracy is not a liability Democracy and victory : why regime type hardly matters Democracy and the Russo-Polish War Democracy and Israel's military effectiveness Democracy and Britain's victory in the Falklands War Conclusions : If not democracy, then what?