1. Introduction

This introductory chapter provides context for the decisions by Blair and Howard to take their nations into the 2003 Iraq war, and looks at the consequences of those decisions, including questions about democratic governance. It provides an outline of the rest of the book which examines: the significance of the alliance with the United States in UK and Australian decision-making over Iraq and the nature of the Iraq war decision in both countries; the role of the media from 2002 to 2003 and the media strategies of the Blair and Howard governments; the post-war inquiries in the UK and Australia; the findings and contribution of the Chilcot inquiry; and the lessons and consequences for the UK and Australia that have flowed from the war decisions.