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:

• Side payments: These can include things like political appointments and policy concessions.
• Information management: This can involve limiting or shaping the flow of information to elites.

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.

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