POL S 121 Lecture Notes - Lecture 12: Falklands War, Geoffrey Blainey, Domestic Disturbance
Document Summary
Each theory argues that civil war/unrest is importantly tied to international war. Many theorists believe that domestic unrest leads to foreign adventurism. Often termed diversionary or scapegoat wars (explained by blainey) Diversionary hypothesis: domestic unrest + foreign opportunity = international war to rally domestic support. "a foreign circus staged for discontented groups at home" When governments face domestic challengers, they may use a foreign war to divert attention away from problems at home. Domestic governments nearly always experience a groundswell of support at home. Rather than placing blame on the home regime, the domestic populace can be persuaded that the foreign enemy is responsible for their ills. In order to be successful, these scapegoat/diversionary wars need to be sure things. Serving their purpose in stabilizing the country"s domestic affairs. Argentina was seeing social and economic instability after a military coup, and used taking back the islands to rally national consciousness.
