What powerful humanitarian claims mean for democracy

Abstract Chapter 7 concludes by examining the domestic coalition argument in the context of contemporary foreign policy and democratic institutions. Considering statements from additional US presidents, as well as other world leaders, this chapter shows that the pattern of humanitarian justifications is not US-specific and continues to hold in the face of growing partisan polarization. The political power of humanitarian narratives has not declined, even as foreign policy goals shifted and humanitarian interventions became less common. In times of domestic and geopolitical change, as well as increasing polarization, humanitarian claims can help maintain democratic accountability by keeping the public engaged in decisions to go to war.