“Groups Can Change, Therefore War is Avoidable”: How Confidence in National Identity Can Reduce Public Support for Militant Internationalism

Abstract

AbstractAs a way to alleviate interstate aggression, researchers have proposed a submergence of existing national identities and promotion of universalism instead. In contrast, this study suggests that strong national identities can reduce public support for militaristic foreign policy. I examine the mechanism of this relationship, proposing that the affirmation of national identities increases beliefs that the nature of other groups is malleable rather than fixed. The belief of the malleability of group nature opens a possibility for negotiation and peacebuilding between rival states, as conflict with the other side becomes an avoidable option. Integrating theories of political psychology and conflict resolution, I conduct novel survey experiments with a sample of 944 Japanese participants. Results revealed that Japanese respondents who reflected on the positive aspects of their national identity tended to hold lower levels of support for militaristic foreign policy. These effects were transmitted via an increase in beliefs that the nature of groups is malleable and beliefs of war avoidability.