War on the Ballot

Reviews / Votes

Andrew Payne has written a truly excellent book. From the Korean and Vietnam Wars to the recent conflict in Iraq, his copiously researched and cogently argued case studies persuasively underline the importance of elections in shaping crucial presidential decisions. This is a must-read for anyone interested in the politics of America's wars. -- Steven Casey, author of <i>The War Beat, Pacific: The American Media at War Against Japan</i> With its razor-sharp conceptual framework and meticulously researched cases-backed up by a treasure trove of sources-this book opens a new window on the many and often surprising effects of the U.S. electoral cycle on presidential decision-making in times of war. -- Louise Fawcett, author of <i>Iran and the Cold War</i> Andrew Payne has written an important book on the impact of the electoral cycle on American foreign policy. His well-conceived model for how domestic political considerations affect decision-making is grounded on finely crafted and well-researched case studies of the wars in Korea, Vietnam, and Iraq. An important contribution to a crucial dimension of American foreign-policy making. -- William B. Quandt, author of <i>Camp David: Peacemaking and Politics</i> War on the Ballot is a richly detailed account of how electoral constraints affect presidential decision-making in war. In this important study of domestic politics and war, Payne shows how the shadow of an upcoming election can shape presidents' choices-often with results that do not serve the voters well. -- Elizabeth N. Saunders, author of <i>Leaders at War: How Presidents Shape Military Interventions</i> Payne effectively demonstrates that domestic electoral politics does indeed affect presidential decisions, often decisively. He presents the argument in such a systematic and persuasive way that it will be very difficult to read his book and still see the recent American wars in the same light. -- Thomas A. Schwartz, author of <i>Henry Kissinger and American Power: A Political Biography</i> Andrew Payne's War on the Ballot is replete with compelling evidence that attests to the influence of the electoral cycle on the military strategy of United States presidents. -- Jonny Hall, London School of Economics and Political Science * International Affairs * Payne's work is important because there are only a few great books that explain how politics impacts wartime policies. * The Interpreter * The writing in this book is lucid, and the analysis is as sharp as it is thought-provoking...[War on the Ballot] advances our understanding of how democracies wage wars, while making clear the prominent role that elections play in presidential decision- making. Readers interested in the vital intersections between policy and politics during war will greatly benefit from reading it. -- William A. Taylor, Angelo State University * Congress & the Presidency *