Democracy declassified: the secrecy dilemma in national security

This title tackles an enduring question of particular current importance: How do democratic governments balance the need for foreign policy secrecy with accountability to the public? This book presents the first evidence that national security oversight institutions, while imperfect, both constrain the executive from abuse and convince members of the public to be less sceptical of investments in security. Democratic foreign policy effectiveness depends not only on executive discretion to keep national security secrets, but also on effective retrospective oversight from outside the executive

Theories of democratic transparency and foreign policy success -- Not so exceptional : the theory, uses, and reality of national security secrecy in democracies -- The potential abuses of national security secrecy -- The consequences of potential abuse for public consent -- Solving the secrecy dilemma -- The consequences of national security oversight in democracies -- A view of national security oversight institutions -- Revealing evidence : support, spending and success -- Conclusion -- Implications and innovations -- Apendices: formal models, data and statistical result

Democracy Declassified tackles an enduring question of particular current importance: How do democratic governments balance the need for foreign policy secrecy with accountability to the public? Secrecy has national security uses, but it can also be abused. Democracy Declassified highlights and then explores how formal oversight institutions can allow for immediate secrecy, while curtailing executive abuses and corrosive public skepticism.

Theories of democratic transparency and foreign policy success -- Not so exceptional : the theory, uses, and reality of national security secrecy in democracies -- The potential abuses of national security secrecy -- The consequences of potential abuse for public consent -- Solving the secrecy dilemma -- The consequences of national security oversight in democracies -- A view of national security oversight institutions -- Revealing evidence : support, spending and success -- Conclusion -- Implications and innovations -- Apendices: formal models, data and statistical result