Title
Support for Militant U.S. Foreign Policy: The Role of Authoritarianism and International Xenophobia
Date of Award
Fall 12-2021
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Arts (MA)
Department/Program
Forensic Psychology
Language
English
First Advisor or Mentor
Shuki Cohen
Second Reader
Demis Glasford
Third Advisor
Charles B. Stone
Abstract
Right-Wing Authoritarianism (RWA) has been studied extensively in the domestic socio-political context, but its potential impact on foreign policy is still poorly understood. The current study replicated the putative two-factor model of the construct (Authoritarian Aggression/Submission and Conventionalism) and examined the associations of each factor with perceptions of overall danger to the U.S. posed by other countries and with the support for more militant U.S. foreign policy. As expected, both RWA factors correlated with self-reported levels of political conservatism (r = 0.32, r = 0.33; p < .001) Additionally, Authoritarian Aggression and Submission (but not Conventionalism) were correlated with increased perceived danger from foreign countries (r = .35; p < .001) and increased support for a more militant U.S. foreign policy (r = .25; p < .001). Participants higher in RWA were more likely to view the world as a hostile and threatening place, and in turn support more aggressive military action in response to those fears.
Recommended Citation
Garcia, Brandon M., "Support for Militant U.S. Foreign Policy: The Role of Authoritarianism and International Xenophobia" (2021). CUNY Academic Works.
https://academicworks.cuny.edu/jj_etds/210