Publications

How democracies exit small wars: the role of opposition parties in war termination

8 May 2012

This article published in the Australian Journal of International Affairs argues that opposition political parties can play an important role in determining when and how a democracy exits a small war. Recent theoretical and empirical research on small wars has further uncovered the restrictions and constraints that democratic societies place on their government’s war strategies. However, the mechanisms through which public opinion constrains and pressures government strategies have received relatively less academic attention. This article examines the role that opposition political parties play in providing an avenue through which society can shape foreign policy - namely, the exiting from small wars. It argues that opposition political parties can be instrumental in determining democracies’ war termination in three ways: through ‘elite cuing’, applying electoral pressure, or winning an election and assuming government. Read article

0 Comments

VIDEOS & INTERVIEWS

Tornado rips through Oklahoma

Disaster recovery expert Edward Blakely says changes in the way houses are built, especially a lack of underground shelters, are partly responsible for the death toll following the tornado in Oklahoma City.

Obama to address drones, Guantanamo

Associate professor Brendon O'Connor previews Barack Obama's major defence speech, saying that the closing of Guantanamo Bay and the continued use of drone strikes are sure to be key issues.