Consequences of Conflict: Impact of Iraq War Casualties on George W. Bush's Approval Ratings

Austin W. Derbak
Dr. John Quinn, Faculty Mentor

Presidential approval numbers are a key area of interest for Americanist political science. The consequential presidency of George W. Bush presents a fascinating case of one of the sharpest declines in presidential approval. However, numerous political events, such as the war in Iraq and the stock market crash of 2008, have led to questions about what was the most significant cause of this sharp decline. In this study, I research various political factors that are predominant in this field’s literature on what the main causes of changing a president’s approval ratings are. I hypothesize that Iraq War casualties had the most significant impact on Bush’s approval ratings. An O.L.S. analysis concluded that extensive media coverage and U.S. fatalities in Iraq were proven to be the most significant causes. This research showcases the severe consequences that war can have on U.S. servicemen and their political ramifications.

 

Keywords: Iraq, Casualties, Bush, Presidential, Approval, Ratings, Afghanistan, Consequences

Topic(s):Political Science
American Studies

Presentation Type: Oral Presentation

Session: TBA
Location: TBA
Time: TBA