Domestic Politics and War

This course examines how legislatures, courts, the media, and the public define the range of options available to presidents who contemplate military action. It also examines how features of the crises themselves-the governing structure of foreign nations, the location of a crisis, and the levels of trade and diplomatic relations between the United States and foreign states-influence the likelihood of military action. Special attention will be paid to the "war on terror" and recent military operations in Afghanistan and Iraq.