Paying the Human Costs of War: American Public Opinion and Casualties in Military Conflicts

The book finds that the most important consideration for the public is the expectation of success. If the public believes that a mission will succeed, the public will support it even if the costs are high. When the public does not expect the mission to succeed, even small costs will cause the withdrawal of support. Providing a wealth of new evidence about American attitudes toward military conflict, Paying the Human Costs of War offers insights into a controversial, timely, and ongoing national discussion.

Author(s): Christopher Gelpi, Peter D. Feaver, Jason Reifler
Publisher: Princeton University Press
Published: 2009-03
Pages: 304
Categories: History