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There is no more dangerous thing for a democracy than a foreign policy based on presidential preventive war.
Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr.
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Interpretation

What this quote means

Preventive war in foreign policy can jeopardize democracy.

Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr. warns that a democracy can be endangered when its foreign policy relies on the concept of preventive war, which is the striking pre-emptively against perceived threats. This approach can lead to reckless decisions that undermine democratic values and the principles of dialogue and diplomacy.

Themes

DemocracyForeign PolicyPreventive WarPoliticsDanger

In practice

Example use cases

In a speech about war ethics, one might reference Schlesinger's warning about preventive wars to emphasize the need for diplomatic solutions.

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