Going to War: British Debates from Wilberforce to Blair

by P. Towle

Overview

Going to War overturns conventional views of the role of public opinion, the armed forces, parliamentarians, NGOs and writers in the formation of British debates about impending wars. It shows the pressures and the reasons which have led to Britain's involvement in so many conflicts.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780230573345
Publisher:	Palgrave Macmillan UK
Publication date:	04/30/2009
Edition description:	2009
Pages:	227
Product dimensions:	5.60(w) x 8.60(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

PHILIP TOWLEhas worked for the Australian National University in Canberra and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. He has taught in the Centre of International Studies at Cambridge University, UKsince 1980 and was previously its Director. This is his twelfth book on International History and Security.

Table of Contents

Preface Chronology Introduction Culture and Circumstance The Anglican Church and War Civil Society The Media and War War and Literature The Rise of the Armchair Strategists The Professional Military Parliamentary Debates Public Opinion Iraq and Afghanistan Do Debates Matter? Brief Biographies References Bibliography

Editorial Reviews

' It is not easy in a thousand words to do justice to Philip Towle's latest book ... it offers a rich and often absorbing account of decisions to go to war made by British governments over the last 200 years. It is a taut book, written with remarkable economy [yet] the ground covered is extensive and his survey is typified by wide knowledge and a searching fairness.'

- Hugh Berrington, RUSI Journal

From the Publisher