For a lot of us, the intersection of the presidential election with a world at war is top of mind. Does foreign policy affect election outcomes though? Everything is at stake in that question, and I thought my man Chris Shell would be the ideal guest to bring data to the discussion.
As I say at the top of the episode and in recent writing, I’ve tended to disagree with the mainstream view that foreign policy doesn’t matter for elections. Vietnam destroyed LBJ. Nixon was brought down by Watergate, which at root was about tracking leaks relating to the Pentagon Papers (the ultimate foreign policy issue). Obama won in 2008 by positioning himself as the anti-war candidate (which he failed to be in practice).
My point being: Foreign policy can affect elections in ways that don’t have to reduce down to the individual psyche of the voter in the election booth.
And yet, as it turns out, the voter in the election booth in 2024 also cares a lot about foreign policy. The upshot: If Kamala’s not going to seize the mantel of peace, she’s not doing everything she can to win.
Check out what else Chris Shell has to say in this timely convo.
Want to know more?
How Do Americans Feel About the Election and Foreign Policy?
Race, Foreign Policy, and the 2024 Presidential Election
Find Chris on Twitter: https://x.com/ChrisShell95
Have you checked out Bang-Bang—the show about war movies, with an anti-imperialist twist?
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