Generals in the Cabinet: Military Participation in Government and International Conflict Initiation

Abstract How does the presence of military officers in national government affect a state's likelihood international conflict? We know great deal about how overall regime type affects conflict, but there is substantial variation within types participation government. little this conflict propensity. In Research Note, I examine three competing arguments for effect on initiation: Military Aggression, Conservatism, and Civil–Military Competition. Aggression suggests that involvement will tend to guide state toward given predisposition favor use force. contrast, Conservatism argues lead less their personal familiarity with its costs. Competition holds when civilians share political power, variety pathologies security deliberation decision-making emerge, increasing test these propositions cross-nationally using data number positions held by cabinets councils find strongest support