Publication Date

2-1-2011

Document Type

Article

Comments

Copyright © Emerald Group Publishing Limited. Link: http://www.emeraldinsight.com/journals.htm?articleid=1906460

Abstract

This study explores the effects of political information and anger on the public’s cognitive processing and foreign policy preferences concerning third-party interventions in ethnic conflict. Our study employs an experimental design wherein we manipulate policy-specific information by generating ad hoc political information related to ethnic conflict. The statistical methods of analysis are logistic regression and analysis of covariance. The results demonstrate that both political information and anger have a significant impact on an individual’s cognitive processing and policy preferences regarding ethnic conflict interventions. Specifically, political information increases one’s proclivity to choose non-military policy options, whereas anger instigates support for aggressive policies. Both factors result in faster decision making with lower amounts of information accessed. The study also finds that policy-specific information—rather than general political information—influences the public’s policy preferences.

Publication Title

International Journal of Conflict Management

Volume

22

Issue

1

Publisher

pol_sci_papers

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