eBook

Paying the human costs of war

Jason Reifler, Christopher Gelpi, Peter D. Feaver

2009

Overview

From the Korean War to the current conflict in Iraq, Paying the Human Costs of War examines the ways in which the American public decides whether to support the use of military force. Contrary to the conventional view, the authors demonstrate that the public does not respond reflexively and solely to the number of casualties in a conflict. Instead, the book argues that the public makes reasoned and reasonable cost-benefit calculations for their continued support of a war based on the justifications for it and the likelihood it will succeed, along with the costs that have been suffered in casualties. Of these factors, the book finds that the most important consideration for the public is the expectation of success. If the public believes that a mission will succeed, the public will support it even if the costs are high. When the public does not expect the mission to succeed, even small costs will cause the withdrawal of support. Providing a wealth of new evidence about American attitudes toward military conflict, Paying the Human Costs of War offers insights into a controversial, timely, and ongoing national discussion.

• Publisher: Princeton University Press
• Subject: Abu Ghraib torture and prisoner abuse / Aftermath of the September 11 attacks / Al-Qaeda / Aphorism / Armed conflict / Battle casualties / Battle casualties -- Public opinion -- History -- 20th century / Battle casualties -- Public opinion -- History -- 21st century / Bombing of Iraq / Bush Doctrine / Casualties of the Iraq War / Civil society / Civil-military relations / Cognitive miser / Cold War / Contingency plan / Counter-insurgency / Death / Defence policy / Disenchantment / Domestic policy / Economic indicator / Enemy combatant / Factor analysis / Force protection / Foreign policy / Foreign Policy Initiative / Foreign policy of the United States / George W. Bush / Gulf War / Heuristic / History / HISTORY / Military / General / Human Rights Watch / Humanitarian intervention / Insurgency / International conflicts / International Relations / Iraq Survey Group / Iraq War / John Mearsheimer / John Mueller / Joseph Grieco / Just war theory / Law of war / Looting / Loss aversion / Military campaign / Military history / Military intervention / Military occupation / Military operation / Military strategy / Nation-building / On War / Opposition to the Iraq War / Opposition to United States involvement in the Vietnam War / Peace / Peacekeeping / Policy / Political campaign / Political capital / Political communication / POLITICAL SCIENCE / POLITICAL SCIENCE / International Relations / General / POLITICAL SCIENCE / Peace / POLITICAL SCIENCE / Political Process / Political Advocacy / POLITICAL SCIENCE / Security (National & International) / Public opinion / Public opinion -- United States -- History -- 20th century / Public opinion -- United States -- History -- 21st century / Pundit / Rebuttal / Reprisal / Respondent / Result / Right-wing authoritarianism / Risk aversion / Saddam Hussein / Sectarian violence / Strategic bombing / Tax / Terrorism / Thomas E. Ricks (journalist) / Trade-off / U.S.A / United States -- Military policy / Vietnam Syndrome / War / War casualties / War damages / War effort / Warfare / Weapon of mass destruction / Willingness to pay / World war / World War II
• ISBN: 9781400830091, 9780691139029, 0691139083, 0691139024, 1400830095, 9780691139081