SUPPMIL MSCA Project

INFORMATION

As the war in Ukraine is still unfolding, scholars, the media and the public heatedly debate the opportunity to intervene in the conflict, what Russia could do next, and how to reduce the negative social-economic impacts of the war. Amongst these issues, particular interest is devoted in the public and political discussion to international norm violations during war, such as the employment of mercenaries, the use of chemical weapons or cluster bombs, and torture. These heinous crimes, unfortunately still committed across various recent conflict from Iraq to Syria and from Congo to Ukraine and by different actors, seem to powerfully influence the positions of both politicians and citizens regarding the opportunity to use military force.

So, what are the factors that explain politicians and the public support for military operations abroad? Under what conditions are citizens and leaders more willing to approve the use of force? The broad goal of the SUPPMIL project was to tackle these timely, crucial research questions, focusing in particular on whether, how and why international norm violations committed during war increase political and public support for military operations. The project looks at two dimensions of this very issue: first, whether and how the violations of norms by domestic leaders reduce domestic approval for the use of force. Second, whether and why norm violations by foreign (hostile) leaders increase public and political support for war in the domestic arena.

PRoject outcomes

Norms and public approval for the use of force: A conjoint experiment on the effectiveness of jus in bello regulations (with Elizabeth Grasmeder). Research article in progress

War in Lithuania: Experimental realistic evidence on the impact of norm violations on audience costs (with Elizabeth Grasmeder). Research article in progress

When leaders violate international laws: Norms and public support for war. Book project