Democracy and the Preparation and Conduct of War

Abstract In Ethics, Security, and the War-Machine , Ned Dobos highlights several negative consequences preparation for war has individuals states. But he misses what I consider perhaps most significant consequence of military mobilization states, especially democracies: how it affect deliberative politics. While many argue that all including democracies, require strong militaries—and there is some evidence long wars can build democracies states—I focus on other effects militarization democratic War militarism are antipodal to democracy undermine it. Their normative bases conflicting—democracy takes force off table, whereas legitimate in war. Thus, while sometimes yield liberalization expansion civil rights, they arguably more likely norms practices.