Why Do Democracies Not Fight Each Other and Why Are Transitions to Democracy So Violence-Prone

Why Do Democracies Not Fight Each Other and Why Are Transitions to Democracy So Violence-Prone?

Bruce Bueno de Mesquita et.al. “An Institutional Explanation of the Democratic Peace,” American Political Science Review. Vol. 93, No. 4 (December 1999).

Discussion Question:

Duncan Hunter, indicted ex-Congressman from San Diego, argued last year that the United States should launch a preemptive military attack against North Korea. Given what you know about democracies and the conditions under which they are willing to start a war, how likely do you think it is that Donald Trump will follow Hunter’s advice?