Public Opinion, Legitimacy and Tony Blairs War in Iraq - 9781138200715

Taylor & Francis

Public Opinion, Legitimacy and Tony Blairs War in IraqAuthor(s): James Strong\nFormat: Hardback\nPublisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd, United Kingdom\nImprint: Routledge\nISBN-13: 9781138200715, 978-1138200715\nSynopsis\nIn the wake of the publication of the Chilcot report, this book reinterprets the relationship between British public opinion and the Blair governments decision-making in the run-up to the 2003 invasion of Iraq. It highlights how the government won the parliamentary vote and got its war, but never won the argument that it was the right thing to do. Understanding how, why and with what consequences Britain wound up in this position means understanding better both this specific case and the wider issue of how democratic publics influence foreign policy processes. \n\nTaking an innovative constructivist approach to understanding how public actors potentially influence foreign policy, Strong frames the debate about Iraq as a contest over legitimacy among active public acto.