Going to war in Iraq : when citizens and the press matter /

This work examines US public opinion during 2002 in the lead-up to the US war in Iraq. Specifically, the authors use data to examine why, in light of political leaders' support for war, some members of the public did not respond with greater support for military action. Chapters cover public uneasiness about waging war in Iraq, how political leaders attempted to set the stage for war, how media covered the issue, and how Democrats and Independents increasingly opposed the war. This work challenges the elite influence model that suggests the public responds to elite policy claims and proposals especially when partisan differences are muted. The importance of media messages, especially newspaper coverage critical of the Iraq War, is stressed. The authors conclude by revisiting issues of citizen competence and argue that "the public is capable of engaging with complex policy issues, including foreign policy, when the press performs well." Overall, this important book is a sophisticated account by prominent scholars that should become a seminal work in the field. Summing Up: Highly recommended. Upper-division undergraduates and above. --Laura J. Roselle, Elon University