From the Publisher
Mitchell provides an interesting typology of the various techniques that leaders use to deflect blame, and he writes with a certain acerbic flair. " -Washington Post,
"Highly recommended for lower-division undergraduates and above."-CHOICE,
“Using interesting and readable case examples, Mitchell argues that democratic leaders are not held accountable by their citizens for the human rights atrocities they permit in times of conflict. If blame is assigned, it goes to low-level soldiers, police, and prison guards, and even their punishments are usually insufficient. To understand why this is so and what can be done about it, read this book.”-David Cingranelli,co-author of Human Rights and Structural Adjustment
“Although accountability lies at the heart of the ideal of democracy, leaders rarely accept blame for human rights violations. The Bush administration famously dismissed the abuses at Abu Ghraib as a result of ‘a few bad apples,’ deflecting blame to the individual soldiers involved, and denying any responsibility for the actions. This insightful book is essential reading for all scholars interested in agency and incentives in the use of violence.”-Kristian Skrede Gleditsch,author of All International Politics Is Local
"I highly recommend this book. Its strongest feature is the clarity of the theoretical argument made about why high officials in mature democracies will engage in self-interested blame management that obscures accountability and devolves punishment on those at the lowest rungs of power." -Hank Jenkins Smith,co-author of Critical Masses and Critical Choices