Public Opinion, Legitimacy and Tony Blair’s War in Iraq

James Strong

$83.99

Paperback

Not in-store but you can order this
How long will it take?

Availability Information

We source books from suppliers in Australia and overseas. For books we don't currently have in stock, the time it takes to get them from our suppliers can vary widely - from a few days to a few months - so we check each book with each supplier to determine the expected time it will take to be supplied to us.

We then advise you accordingly. If the time taken to get any book is too long for you, you can let us know and we will cancel or adjust your order, and refund as required.

To find out the anticipated arrival time for specific items prior to ordering, please contact us by phone or email:

Phone +61 2 9264 3111, or 1800 4 BOOKS (1800 4 26657) if outside Sydney:
option 1 Abbey's Bookshop (Crime, History, Science, Kids & more) • info@abbeys.com.au
option 2 Language Book Centre (ESL & Foreign Languages) • language@abbeys.com.au
option 3 Galaxy Bookshop (Sci-fi, Fantasy, Romance, Graphic Novels) • sf@galaxybooks.com.au

QTY:

English

Routledge
30 June 2021

Political leaders & leadership; International relations; Public opinion & polls; Terrorism, armed struggle

Series: Routledge Studies in Foreign Policy Analysis

In the wake of the publication of the Chilcot report, this book reinterprets the relationship between British public opinion and the Blair government’s decision-making in the run-up to the 2003 invasion of Iraq. It highlights how the government won the parliamentary vote and got its war, but never won the argument that it was the right thing to do. Understanding how, why and with what consequences Britain wound up in this position means understanding better both this specific case and the wider issue of how democratic publics influence foreign policy processes.

Taking an innovative constructivist approach to understanding how public actors potentially influence foreign policy, Strong frames the debate about Iraq as a contest over legitimacy among active public actors, breaking it down into four constituent elements covering the necessity, legality and morality of war, and the government’s authority. The book presents a detailed empirical account of the British public debate before the invasion of Iraq based on the rigorous interrogation of thousands of primary sources, employing both quantitative and qualitative content analysis methods to interpret the shape of debate between January 2002 and March 2003.

Also contributing to the wider foreign policy analysis literature, the book investigates the domestic politics of foreign policy decision-making, and particularly the influence public opinion exerts; considers the domestic structural determinants of foreign policy decision-making; and studies the ethics of foreign policy decision-making, and the legitimate use of force. It will be of great use to students and scholars of foreign policy analysis, as well as those interested in legitimacy in international conflict, British foreign policy, the Iraq War and the role of public opinion in conflict situations.

By: James Strong
Imprint: Routledge
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 234mm, Width: 156mm,
Weight: 331g
ISBN: 9781032097121
ISBN 10: 1032097124
Series: Routledge Studies in Foreign Policy Analysis
Pages: 228
Publication Date: 30 June 2021
Audience: College/higher education , General/trade , Primary , ELT Advanced
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active

Dramatis Personae 1 Introduction: Understanding a controversial war Structure Part One: Public opinion 2 British public influence over foreign policy Searching for the Loch Ness Monster A constructivist approach 3 The Iraq debate: An overview Rallying round the flag Pockets of support Salience and communication Part Two: Legitimacy 4 Understanding legitimacy Legitimacy as a discursive construct Studying the Blair government’s discursive legitimization efforts Categorizing the debate 5 Threat and WMD Judgement Nuance Evidence 6 Legality and the UN Defining the UN’s role Procedural ambiguities Clashing timetables 7 Morality and regime change Understanding Tony Blair Legality and morality Regime change 8 Politics and authority The ‘special relationship’ Blaming France Domestic politics Part Three: Tony Blair’s war in Iraq 9 Aftermath Reality asserts itself David Kelly The 2005 General Election 10 Implications Selling the Iraq war A holistic approach A two-level debate

James Strong is a Fellow in Foreign Policy Analysis and International Relations in the Department of International Relations at the London School of Economics, UK.

Reviews for Public Opinion, Legitimacy and Tony Blair’s War in Iraq

'Strong's book is excellent, pushing our understanding of the relationship between public opinion and foreign policy in novel directions. The research is rigorous and well-grounded in theory and methods. I highly recommend it, to scholars, students, and any readers interested in democratic politics, British foreign policy, or the legitimacy of international interventions.' - Juliet Kaarbo, Professor, Politics and International Relations, University of Edinburgh, UK 'Strong provides a well written, closely argued book which is essential reading for students of British politics and academics alike.' - Victoria Honeyman, Lecturer in British Politics, University of Leeds, UK