Popular Nationalism and War

This fascinating book reconsiders the widely held view that nationalism is always a force for war. Ko argues persuasively that popular nationalism can sometimes be a counterintuitive source of peace, making leaders hesitant to initiate wars unless they are sure they can deliver total victory. This multimethod book is a must-read for scholars interested in questions including how public opinion affects patterns of international conflict and the prospects for war in East Asia. * Jessica Weeks, University of Wisconsin, Madison * Popular nationalism has a reputation for provoking wars. Jiyoung Ko's Popular Nationalism and War upends this conventional wisdom and makes a compelling case that popular nationalism can also restrain leaders from using force. She explains that leaders proceed cautiously when they cannot envision a quick and complete victory over significant adversaries, fearing that a loss would trigger backlash from their nationalist public. Popular Nationalism and War presents rich and compelling empirical analyses to complement Ko's nuanced theory, which blends psychology with domestic politics to explain international conflict. This book is an essential contribution to the ongoing debate on whether and when popular nationalism causes military aggression. * Kathleen E. Powers, Author of Nationalisms in International Politics * While scholars have often assumed that nationalistic sentiments among citizens shape mass foreign policy preferences and ultimately lead to military aggression, Jiyoung Ko interrogates this relationship and suggests that popular nationalism can-and often does-have a restraining effect. This groundbreaking new book identifies the conditions under which popular nationalism may lead to interstate war-namely when political elites believe that a complete victory is likely and when they are politically vulnerable at home. * Harris Mylonas, Author of The Politics of Nation-Building *