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Episode 113: The Insiders Game by Elizabeth N. Saunders - Deep Dive Book Review
Today, we review Elizabeth N. Saunders's The Insiders' Game, which challenges the view that public opinion dictates decisions about war in democracies. Instead, Saunders argues that elite politics are central to how leaders choose to use force. Elites have a different relationship with the use of force than the public, and presidents use two mechanisms to manage their preferences and secure support for war:
Saunders argues this dynamic creates a hawkish bias, particularly for presidents from parties with dovish reputations. These leaders are often more willing to make concessions to hawkish elites to avoid appearing weak.
Through case studies ranging from the Korean War to the 2009 Afghanistan surge, The Insiders' Game shows how presidents bargain with elites, make side payments to secure their support, and manage information to shape their perceptions of war. This book offers a nuanced understanding of how decisions about war are made, highlighting the importance of elite politics and the potential for hawkish bias.
We use AI to help create our podcast episodes, generating voices and initial scripts. We carefully craft each episode through specific prompting and editing to ensure it offers helpful, accurate insights based on books we've read or books recommended by our listeners. AI allows us to produce consistent, high-quality content more efficiently and frequently so we can focus on delivering valuable discussions to you.
We recognize that everyone will hold their own opinions about the books, authors, and topics we explore in our reviews. Our goal is to provide diverse opinions and viewpoints that contribute to a critical study of the issues being discussed.
Have a book you'd like us to review in our unique podcast style? Drop us a comment, and we’ll check it out!
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By Dan RoseToday, we review Elizabeth N. Saunders's The Insiders' Game, which challenges the view that public opinion dictates decisions about war in democracies. Instead, Saunders argues that elite politics are central to how leaders choose to use force. Elites have a different relationship with the use of force than the public, and presidents use two mechanisms to manage their preferences and secure support for war:
Saunders argues this dynamic creates a hawkish bias, particularly for presidents from parties with dovish reputations. These leaders are often more willing to make concessions to hawkish elites to avoid appearing weak.
Through case studies ranging from the Korean War to the 2009 Afghanistan surge, The Insiders' Game shows how presidents bargain with elites, make side payments to secure their support, and manage information to shape their perceptions of war. This book offers a nuanced understanding of how decisions about war are made, highlighting the importance of elite politics and the potential for hawkish bias.
We use AI to help create our podcast episodes, generating voices and initial scripts. We carefully craft each episode through specific prompting and editing to ensure it offers helpful, accurate insights based on books we've read or books recommended by our listeners. AI allows us to produce consistent, high-quality content more efficiently and frequently so we can focus on delivering valuable discussions to you.
We recognize that everyone will hold their own opinions about the books, authors, and topics we explore in our reviews. Our goal is to provide diverse opinions and viewpoints that contribute to a critical study of the issues being discussed.
Have a book you'd like us to review in our unique podcast style? Drop us a comment, and we’ll check it out!