Abstract
In literature on public support for military missions, political discord has been criticised, because it is claimed that having a single strategic narrative as a basis for consensus helps foster such support. In this chapter the author starts from the perspective of the primacy of politics. The chapter intends to show that political parties have different and authentic views on peace and security and more specifically on the reason and the end of military missions. The discussion in the Netherlands on the reason and the ending of the Dutch military mission in the Afghan province of Uruzgan between 2005 and 2010 will be taken as a case study. First, some theoretical remarks on strategic narratives will be made. Then, the role of political parties within a parliamentary democratic system will be explored. They are seen as intermediaries between public opinion and government. When looking for support for military missions, a government needs to convince
Hey! Think the time is right for a palace revolution
‘Cause where I live the game to play is compromise solution
Well, then what can a poor boy do
Except to sing for a rock ‘n’ roll band
‘Cause in sleepy London town
There’s just no place for a street fighting man
No
Mick Jagger/Keith Richards, Street Fighting Man
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Brinkel, T. (2016). Strategic Narratives, Political Debates and Causes of the Dutch Exit from Uruzgan. In: Noll, J., Wollenberg, D., Osinga, F., Frerks, G., Kemenade, I. (eds) Netherlands Annual Review of Military Studies 2015. NL ARMS. T.M.C. Asser Press, The Hague. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-6265-078-7_3
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