Divided Union: The Politics of War in the Early American Republic (Cornell Studies in Security Affairs)
"Silverstone addresses big questions about matters of war and peace in America's federal system, and he develops a carefully reasoned, nuanced, and persuasive theory on the central importance of regional politics in restraining the use of military force."—Journal of Military History"Scott A. Silverstone's closely argued, smoothly written synthesis reminds us that wars prevented are just as real as wars that occur. It also reminds us, in timely fashion, that the Federalists who framed the U.S. Constitution meant for decisions of war and peace to rest with the people and states. How much things have changed since 1787!"—Walter A. McDougall, University of Pennsylvania and Foreign Policy Research Institute"In Divided Union Scott A. Silverstone draws on copious amounts of historical literature to make a compelling case that diverging regional interests, coupled with certain constitutional features, prevented presidents from using force in many cases. In unusually clear prose he synthesizes the literatures on U.S. foreign policy and U.S. intergovernmental relations."—John M. Owen, author of Liberal Peace, Liberal War: American Politics and International Security