Paying the Human Costs of War: American Public Opinion and Casualties in Military Conflicts by Christopher Gelpi, Peter D. Feaver, Jason Reifler

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Synopsis

"Paying the Human Costs of War, an ambitious and provocative new book by three distinguished military commentators, takes on the conventional wisdom that Americans are skittish about casualty numbers, and argues instead that the American people have a much more sophisticated calculus about decisions associated with fighting and dying. A deeply important read for policymakers, military commanders, and the interested public alike."--Kurt M. Campbell, Center for a New American Security"Gelpi, Feaver, and Reifler have written the most rigorous and thorough--yet also readable and accessible--study of Americans' stomach for war yet published. It is well grounded in Feaver's recent real-world political experience, though there is nothing partisan or self-serving about the book. The practical touch his experience provides is the perfect complement to the academic sophistication underlying the core of the authors' analysis. The new survey data, careful review of the existing literature, commonsense analysis of recent U.S. warfighting operations, and logical clarity of the authors' thinking make the book's main arguments very persuasive."--Michael O'Hanlon, Brookings Institution"This is a superb, profound, and most timely study of wartime opinion. It offers a compelling antidote to the conventional wisdom that popular support for military missions inevitably collapses with rising casualties. The wide historical sweep along with rigorous statistical tests places this work in a class by itself."--Helmut Norpoth, Stony Brook University"This book shows that although the U.S. public is sensitive to U.S. casualties suffered in war, the public is more sensitive to perceived defeat and will continue tosupport operations abroad as long as they are persuaded victory is still likely. The book's arguments are well presented and bolstered with an impressive array of first-rate empirical evidence."--Richard Herrmann, Ohio State University

Biography

Christopher Gelpi is professor of political science at Duke University. He is the author of "The Power of Legitimacy" (Princeton). Peter D. Feaver is the Alexander F. Hehmeyer Professor of Political Science and Public Policy at Duke University. From 2005 to 2007, he served as a special advisor on the National Security Council. Feaver and Gelpi are the coauthors of "Choosing Your Battles" (Princeton). Jason Reifler is assistant professor of political science at Georgia State University.