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War and the Reelection Motive

Author

Listed:
  • Sean Zeigler

    (Department of Political Science, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA)

  • Jan H. Pierskalla

    (German Institute of Global and Area Studies, Hamburg, Germany)

  • Sandeep Mazumder

    (Department of Economics, Wake Forest University, Winston–Salem, NC, USA)

Abstract

This article investigates the relationship between term limits and international conflict. Theories of political survival and diversionary war both imply term limits should play a role in international relations, whereas “permanent referendum theory,†largely motivated by work in American politics, suggests otherwise. Drawing on these theories, we formulate and test competing hypotheses regarding term limits and international crises. Using dyadic militarized interstate disputes data and information on forty-eight democracies with term limits, we uncover strong evidence to support the claim that leaders reaching final terms in office are more likely to initiate conflict than those still subject to reelection. Moreover, we find that the likelihood of conflict initiation is significantly higher during times of recession, but only in the absence of binding term limits. While binding electoral terms and economic downturns are both independently associated with increased levels of conflict initiation, in concert their conditional effects actually counteract each other.

Suggested Citation

  • Sean Zeigler & Jan H. Pierskalla & Sandeep Mazumder, 2014. "War and the Reelection Motive," Journal of Conflict Resolution, Peace Science Society (International), vol. 58(4), pages 658-684, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:jocore:v:58:y:2014:i:4:p:658-684
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Conconi, Paola & Sahuguet, Nicolas & Zanardi, Maurizio, 2018. "Electoral incentives, term limits, and the sustainability of peace," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 51(C), pages 15-26.
    2. Matthew DiLorenzo & Becca McBride & James Lee Ray, 2019. "Presidential political ambition and US foreign conflict behavior, 1816–2010," Conflict Management and Peace Science, Peace Science Society (International), vol. 36(2), pages 111-130, March.

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