Hawk vs. dove

Beginner 🏛️ Government / Politics

Definition

Hawks favor aggressive military intervention; doves prefer diplomatic solutions and restraint.

Example Usage

The foreign policy cabinet was split between hawks advocating military intervention and doves promoting negotiations.

Origin

Popularized during the Vietnam War to describe competing military philosophies

Fun Fact

The metaphor actually reverses traditional symbolism—doves represent peace while hawks suggest aggression.

Source: Foreign policy terminology

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