Debating the Democratic Peace

by Michael E. Brown (Editor), Sean M. Lynn-Jones (Editor), Steven E. Miller (Editor)

Are democracies less likely to go to war than other kinds of states? This question is of tremendous importance in both academic and policy-making circles and one that has been debated by political scientists for years. The Clinton administration, in particular, has argued that the United States should endeavor to promote democracy around the world. This timely reader includes some of the most influential articles in the debate that have appeared in the journal International Security during the past two years, adding two seminal pieces published elsewhere to make a more balanced and complete collection, suitable for classroom use.

Genres: International Relations, Nonfiction, Political Science

414 pages, Paperback

First published May 10, 1996

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.

Michael E. Brown is an American academic and Professor of International Affairs, Political Science, and Gender Studies at the George Washington University. He served as Dean of the Elliott School of International Affairs from 2005 to 2015. Brown holds a Ph.D. in Government from Cornell University and has held senior roles at the International Institute for Strategic Studies in London, Harvard’s Belfer Center, and Georgetown University. His research focuses on international security. Known for his distinctive orange necktie, Brown has become a recognizable figure on campus—except during Halloween week, when he sets it aside.

Reviews

[Liquidlasagna · Rating 5 out of 5]

The democratic peace thesis is one of the most significant propositions to come out of social science in recent decades. If true, it has crucially important implications for both theory and policy. Debating the Democratic Peace provides a comprehensive collection of the major writings on all sides of this issue.

Samuel P. Huntington, Harvard University

[Will · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book presents the debate on the liberal democratic peace; the idea that democracies do not go to war with one another. It presents arguments both for an against.