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Just Deserts in Iraq: American Vengeance for 9/11.

Authors :
Liberman, Peter
Skitka, Linda J.
Source :
Conference Papers -- American Political Science Association. 2008 Annual Meeting, p1-24. 28p. 2 Diagrams, 1 Chart.
Publication Year :
2008

Abstract

In January 2002 national survey data, we find a strong relationship between Americans' desires to avenge 9/11 and their bellicosity toward Iraq, even after controlling for the perceived terrorist threat, left-right ideology, and approval of U.S. political leaders. Prior beliefs about Iraq could have prompted suspicions of Iraqi complicity. In addition, appraisal tendency research suggests that anger and desires for revenge could have heightened out-group antipathy, displaced blaming, and optimistic assessment of war risks. We test the first of these processes and find evidence that anti-Arab and anti-Muslim antipathy partially mediated the vengeance's effect on bellicosity. Vengeance, in turn, mediated the effects of retributiveness (proxied by right-wing authoritarianism) and patriotism on public bellicosity. While perceptions of the Iraqi threat probably assumed greater importance over the course of the following year, additional survey data shows that even as war approached, most supporters acknowledged it would satisfy a desire for revenge. ..PAT.-Unpublished Manuscript [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Details

Language :
English
Database :
Academic Search Index
Journal :
Conference Papers -- American Political Science Association
Publication Type :
Conference
Accession number :
36951459