12 Nov 2024
Brown Bag Seminar,
12:30 - 13:30,
Anna Nussbaum Auditorium and online,
Hallerstrasse 6, Bern, Switzerland
US versus Them? Reciprocal Benefits and Public Support for International Law
What explains public opinion toward international law? Research suggests that citizens respond strongly to negative cues. Yet, most studies do not incorporate information about the benefits. We theorize that cues about the reciprocity of international law – that it can be accessed equally by all parties – has a positive effect on support. We evaluate our theory using a representative survey experiment in the United States (US) examining views towards Investor State Dispute Settlement (ISDS). Two major findings stand out. First, consistent with previous research, the public is more supportive of international law if their country is the initiator rather than the target of a dispute. Second, when their country is the target, information about the use of ISDS by US firms – which we refer to as “specific reciprocity” – increases support. Our findings demonstrate that citizens respond to cues about both the costs and benefits of international law.
Andrew Lugg is an assistant professor in the department of political science at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. His teaching and research interests span international relations with a specific focus on international political economy and international organizations. He currently has three major research interests: 1) the evolution of formal international organizations; 2) the design and diffusion of trade and investment agreements; and 3) populist backlash against international institutions. His research has been published or is forthcoming in a range of academic journals, including International Studies Quarterly, The Review of International Organizations, The Journal of Conflict Resolution, Political Research Quarterly, Cambridge University Press, Research and Politics, The Journal of International Economic Law, and Global Policy. He has also co-authored reports for the World Bank, USAID, and the European Parliament.
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