Public Opinion towards Conflict and Cooperation in International Relations

Session Submission Type: Full Paper Panel

Session Description

This proposed panel for the American Political Science Association's annual conference delves into the dynamics of public opinion toward conflict and cooperation in international relations (IR). Featuring five papers, the panel unifies under a common theme: the formation of public attitudes around foreign policy issues, influenced by psychological factors and elite cues. The topics range from territorial conflicts and foreign election interference to support for international organizations and societal-level international exchanges.

The paper by Altman and Powers presents the idea of 'competition value' in territorial conflicts, studying how psychological factors can increase perceived value beyond tangible and symbolic aspects. The paper by Brutger et al. investigates the influence of aggressive political rhetoric on public and elite views of international organizations, with a case study on the World Trade Organization. The paper by Oh and Gelpi analyzes how public opinion responds to possible foreign election interference, and how this response is moderated by partisan double-standard. Green-Riley and Sands' paper explores how public opinions are influenced by international student exchanges, looking at how Americans' interactions with Chinese students in the U.S. affect their views. Zhang's paper offers a novel view on how military retaliation and public response to adversary deterrence efforts affect international crises, challenging traditional deterrence theories.

These papers enhance our understanding of how international relations are shaped by public opinion, which is influenced by direct interactions, political discourse, and psychological factors. The panel also gains from having two discussants, Carly Wayne and Lauren Prather, experts in both substantive theoretical questions and experimental methods.

In terms of fostering academic exchange, this panel brings together scholars from a variety of institutions and different stages in their academic careers: graduate students, new assistant professors, and tenured professors. This diversity of perspectives and experiences promises to enrich the discussion and provide a broad range of insights into the topics at hand. By including scholars at different stages of their careers, the panel also provides opportunities for mentorship and collaboration, helping to build a vibrant and inclusive academic network.

Sub Unit

• Division 21: Conflict Processes

Discussants

• Carly Nicole Wayne Washington University in St. Louis

• Lauren Prather University of California, San Diego

Individual Presentations

• For the Land Itself? Disentangling Motives in Territorial Conflict - Dan Altman, Georgia State University; Kathleen E Powers, Dartmouth College

• Rules of Engagement: Elite Cues and Public Support for IOs - Ryan Brutger, University of California, Berkeley; Richard Clark, University of Notre Dame; Kelebogile Zvobgo, College of William & Mary

• Democracy Hacked? Public Opinion and Foreign Cyber Influence Operations - Hyunso Christy Oh, The Ohio State University; Christopher F. Gelpi, The Ohio State University

• The Campus as a Classroom: Exposure to Chinese Students & Attitudes towards China - Naima Green-Riley, Princeton University; Melissa Sands, London School of Economics

• Cycle of Revenge: The Source and Consequence of Revenge Motive - Xunchao Zhang, Stanford University