Can Democracies Initiate Preventive War? America's Confrontation with the Soviet Union and Iraq

Feb 27, 2003

During his commencement address to West Point graduates in June 2002, President Bush set in motion an extraordinary national and international debate over waging war with Iraq. What makes this debate particularly important in terms of both American foreign policy and international relations theory is that it represents the first time the United States, or any democracy, has so openly debated and approved of fighting a preventive war. Moreover, this case would represent the first time a democracy has actually fought a preventive war.

To access the full article, click on the "download" link below.

You may also like

Robert D. Kaplan & Stephen D. Hibbard. CREDIT: Simon Myaskovsky.

NOV 10, 2026 • Video

Getting China Right: The Ultimate Moral Dilemma

How can the U.S. avoid miscalculating when it comes to China? Access the Third Charles W. Kegley, Jr. Annual Lecture with Robert D. Kaplan.

NOV 6, 2026 • Podcast

Moral Courage, Individual Agency, and Institutional Trust

Former FBI special agent Asha Rangappa joins “Values & Interests” to discuss the ethical challenges facing public servants in an era of eroding institutional norms.

Clockwise: Nadav Avihay, Daniel A. Zarrilli, Janice Beecher, Rebecca Distler, Sylvana Q. Sinha, Jay Chaudhuri, Eleonore Fournier-Tombs, Molly Schaeffer, Jodi Vittori, Peter S. Goodman, Will Freeman, Joshua Acosta. CREDIT: Veronika Cernadas.

NOV 3, 2026 • Video

Carnegie Ethics Fellows Symposium 2026

Access expert panels on water ethics, AI in healthcare, economic and national security, and AI in humanitarian response, moderated by the Carnegie Ethics Fellows.

No traducido

Este contenido aún no ha sido traducido a su idioma. Puede solicitar una traducción haciendo clic en el botón de abajo.

Solicitar traducción