Democracy and Military Force

The relationship between democracy and foreign policy has always been controversial. Whether good or bad, the influence of public opinion a central factor in all democracies on political decision-making in matters of war and peace is more important than ever. How has the end of the Cold War affected popular attitudes in Western Europe and the USA? Is the public no longer willing to tolerate military casualties, or is that a myth that serves as a welcome alibi for hesitant politicians? This text takes into account US and European experiences of military operations in order to test the "body bag" theory in the context of conflicts, so providing insights into actual workings of public opinion in democracies. It includes case studies from the Gulf War, Yugoslavia and Kosovo.