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:	9780230237933
Publisher:	Palgrave Macmillan UK
Publication date:	04/30/2009
Edition description:	2009
Pages:	227
Product dimensions:	5.40(w) x 8.40(h) x 0.60(d)

About the Author

PHILIP TOWLE has 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, UK since 1980 and was previously its Director. This is his twelfth book on International History and Security.

Table of Contents

Preface viii

Abbreviations ix

Introduction 1

1 Culture and Circumstance 11

2 The Anglican Church and War 24

3 Civil Society 40

4 The Media and War 56

5 War and Literature 68

6 The Rise of the Armchair Strategists 80

7 The Professional Military 102

8 Parliament and War 116

9 The Public Debate 132

10 Iraq and Afghanistan 142

11 Do Debates on War Matter? 156

Notes 166

Chronology 194

Selected Biographies 198

Bibliography 207

Index 222

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