What does democratic peace theory assert?

• A. Democracies are more likely to go to war with each other.
• B. Democracies are less likely to go to war with each other.
• C. Democracies never go to war with nondemocracies.
• D. Democracy ensures perpetual peace.

Answer: (B)

Democratic peace theory centers on the idea that democracies are less likely to go to war with other democracies. The logic is that democracies operate under norms and institutions that slow and constrain why leaders can go to war. Leaders need public support and legislative approval for major conflicts, and elections make rulers accountable for the costs and outcomes of war. This makes credible commitment and transparent bargaining more likely, encouraging peaceful resolution of disputes between democratic states. The theory specifically concerns wars between states that are both democracies and does not claim that democracies never fight nondemocratic powers or guarantee perpetual peace.