The Effects of Protracted War on Representative Government

Abstract

The argument: that protracted was has characteristics that are corrosive to representative governments, and therefore it is necessary to examine the phenomenon given American commitment to a strategy of protracted war against transnational terrorism. The paper presents a theory that posits the mechanisms by which protracted war may have demonstrated its corrosive effect on representative government, examines 3 historical case studies, then posits measures in mitigation. The case studies extend from antiquity, drawing on examples used by the framers of the American Constitution, through the American experience during the Cold War with the Soviet Union.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Mar 18, 2005
Accession Number
ADA434875

Entities

People

  • Richard E. Wiersema

Organizations

  • United States Army War College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical
  • Counter WMD
  • Energy and Power Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Case Studies
  • Civil War
  • Commerce
  • Congress
  • Economic Systems
  • Education
  • Governments
  • Law
  • Military History
  • National Governments
  • National Politics
  • New York
  • Nuclear Bombs
  • Second World War
  • United States
  • United States Government
  • War Colleges

Readers

  • Military History of the United States in the 20th Century.
  • Strategic Security Studies
  • Theoretical Analysis.