POL208Y5 Lecture Notes - Lecture 7: Democratic Peace Theory, Satisficing, Mirror Image
Document Summary
The public is not interested in going to war ex. Us opposed he vietnam war and forced president johnson not to run again. However, democracies can still go to war, often initiate it and their publics support it. ex, the gulf far (80% of americans supported) Authoritarian regimes start a war to distract their public (democracies don"t). However, democracies also do the same, such as when the timing of afghan missile strikes and clinton"s scandal. A pair of democracies is more peaceful. They may go to wat with authoritarian regimes, but democracies never fight each other. States will go to war depending on their regime type and performance, trade and membership in international institutions (un). Structural: it"s easier for democracies to cooperate. The bargaining style of democracies is about compromise and commitment to rules and agreements. This pattern is both evident externally and internally.
