ABSTRACT
This chapter analysis the historical and empirical evidence on the extent to which domestic problems increase presidents' incentives to use force. It reviews research on diversionary theory. The essence of diversionary theory is that American presidents and other leaders use military force abroad to deflect public attention from problems at home. The expectation that these activities will bolster a president's popular standing is the last and perhaps the key assumption of diversionary theory. Since the goal of a political use of force is to influence foreign actors without becoming embroiled in a war with them, the several actions are comparably less risky than war. The literature on the political use of military force has grown in both quantity and quality. Researchers who claim that presidents use military force to increase their approval ratings have argued that we should find an inverse relationship between popularity and the use of force.
