Domestic Discontent and the External Use of Force

• Published in: The Journal of conflict resolution Vol. 36; no. 1; pp. 25 - 52
• Main Authors: Morgan, T. Clifton, Bickers, Kenneth N.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 2455 Teller Road, Newbury Park, CA 91320 Sage Publications 01.03.1992; SAGE Publications; University of Michigan, Department of Journalism; SAGE PUBLICATIONS, INC
• Subjects: Conflict Resolution; Control variables; Discontent; Foreign policy; International hostility; International Relations; Leadership; Political conflict; Political partisanship; Politics; Presidents; Theory; War; War conflict

Although the diversionary theory of international conflict is intuitively plausible and is supported by much anecdotal evidence, quantitative tests generally have failed to establish a systematic link between domestic political troubles and foreign policy adventurism. In this article we revise the d...