Generating Support for a Hypothetical War

Presidential Cues and Justifications

Bibliographic Data

ID10763527
AuthorsAnthony Gooch (0000-0003-1001-2438, Rowan University, corresponding author)
Year2020
Volume101
Issue5
Pages1761-1772
Publication date2020-09-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueSocial Science Quarterly (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0038-4941 • E-ISSN: 1540-6237
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/ssqu.12849
OpenAlexW3081822018
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited32

Objective Support for wars that involve the United States typically divides by party identification among American voters, leading many scholars to believe that voters need only a partisan cue to go along with war. However, presidents do not endorse war in isolation; instead, they justify it with a variety of reasons ranging from minimal to extensive. Causally identifying these factors—partisan cues and justifications—can be challenging because (1) both occur simultaneously and (2) measured opinion on war usually occurs after the public has been exposed to both. Method This study leverages experimental evidence that randomizes presidential cues (an actual sitting president) and justifications about a hypothetical (and unnecessary) war in which elites have not staked out positions. Results Results show that a presidential endorsement alone does not generate support for a hypothetical war, but the inclusion of a justification, even one that is minimal, can increase support for war and improve presidential approval. Overall support still remains low for a hypothetical war and is concentrated among in‐partisans. Conclusion These results imply that a segment of the American public will go along with war, but the reach is limited to their own party

Identification (biology) · Isolation (microbiology) · Political economy · Political science · Politics · Presidential campaign · Presidential system · Public opinion · Public relations · Public support · Sociology · Spanish Civil War · Variety (cybernetics) · Vietnam War · Artificial Intelligence · Computer Science · Electoral Systems and Political Participation · Law · Populism, Right-Wing Movements · Psychology · Social and Intergroup Psychology · Social Psychology

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