Securing Approval: Domestic Politics and Multilateral Authorization for War

Terrence L. Chapman

University of Chicago Press, Apr 15, 2011 - Law - 189 pages

Among the most momentous decisions that leaders of a state are called upon to make is whether or not to initiate warfare. How their military will fare against the opponent may be the first consideration, but not far behind are concerns about domestic political response and the reaction of the international community.

Securing Approval makes clear the relationship between these two seemingly distinct concerns, demonstrating how multilateral security organizations like the UN influence foreign policy through public opinion without ever exercising direct enforcement power. While UN approval of a proposed action often bolsters public support, its refusal of endorsement may conversely send a strong signal to domestic audiences that the action will be exceedingly costly or overly aggressive. With a cogent theoretical and empirical argument, Terrence L. Chapman provides new evidence for how multilateral organizations matter in security affairs as well as a new way of thinking about the design and function of these institutions.

Contents

• Introduction: 1
• 1 The Value of Multilateral Authorization: 19
• 2 Institutions Member State Bias and Information Transmission: 37
• 3 Appealing to Multilateral Security Organizations: 73
• 4 UN Authorization and US Public Opinion: 101
• 5 International Organizations and Coalition Building: 131
• Conclusion: 153
• References: 163
• Index: 179

About the author

Terrence L. Chapman is assistant professor in the Department of Government at the University of Texas at Austin.

Bibliographic information

• Title: Securing Approval: Domestic Politics and Multilateral Authorization for War; Chicago Series on International and Domestic Institutions
• Author: Terrence L. Chapman
• Edition: illustrated
• Publisher: University of Chicago Press, 2011
• ISBN: 0226101223, 9780226101224
• Length: 189 pages
• Subjects: Law / International; Law / Military; Political Science / American Government / Legislative Branch; Political Science / General; Political Science / Intergovernmental Organizations; Political Science / International Relations / Diplomacy; Political Science / International Relations / General; Political Science / Public Policy / Military Policy; Political Science / Security (National & International)