Striking First: Preemption and Prevention in International Conflict

by Michael W. Doyle

Book Overview

Does the United States have the right to defend itself by striking first, or must it wait until an attack is in progress? Is the Bush Doctrine of aggressive preventive action a justified and legal recourse against threats posed by terrorists and rogue states? Tackling one of the most controversial policy issues of the post-September 11 world, Michael Doyle argues that neither the Bush Doctrine nor customary international law is capable of adequately...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0691136580
• ISBN13: 9780691136585
• Release Date: April 2008
• Publisher: Princeton University Press
• Length: 216 Pages
• Weight: 0.85 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.5" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

A realistic book

Doyle's book on preemption and prevention of international conflicts is a very timely one that seeks to respond to the most burning question of the day in international politics: whether and how much of force element be used by a great power to maintain international order. As for the American values readers may also benefit a lot from reading my book mentioned below. Doyle, rightly, is very critical Bush's approach in this respect calling it open-ended that may prove to be a free for all and ultimately resulting in a state of anarchy. Yet, human beings care largely about force and rule of law and it would be naive to expect morality from common fellows sodden with divisive and group ideologies because human instincts are built that way. Doyle rightly discerns this truth and thus calls for a revision and updating of this concept of preemption. The book is a balanced one in which human rights and the need for proper adminstration gets their proper dues. I think it has got all the attributes to appeal to huge numbers of readers. Gautam Maitra Author of 'Tracing the Eagle's Orbit: Illuminating Insights into Major US Foreign Policies Since Independence'.