National Attachment Research Articles

Influential factors for intention to visit an adversarial nation: increasing robustness and validity of findings

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the drivers of visitation intention, including demographic, psychographic (animosity, national attachment and consumer ethnocentrism) and image factors on tourist decision-making in a situation of bilateral conflict between the destination country and the source country, that is, the USA and Russia, respectively. Design/methodology/approach The data were collected at two different points in time from two different samples but analyzed with the same research question in mind. To increase the robustness and validity of findings, three analytical approaches from the repertoire of statistics and data mining techniques such as hierarchical linear regression, logistic regression and decision tree analysis were applied to two independent samples of tourists with different demographic profiles. This multiple methods research employs a complementary design, as methods used have equal importance and are applied concurrently. Findings The paper obtained generally consistent results across methods and samples: general animosity, destination image and country image are the most influential factors in the tourists’ decision-making to visit a destination country with which their own country has strained bilateral relations. Practical implications Destination image is highly important in all analyses and is more favorable than country image. It indicates some degree of separation of the two images in the respondents’ mind, which indicates that marketing a country as a tourist destination on a not-so-friendly tourism market may still be effective. Results also tentatively indicate that for young adults, patriotic feelings matter more in their decision-making, while for more mature tourists, ethnocentric tendencies play a more important role. Originality/value The paper examines the influence of general and situational animosity, national attachment, and consumer ethnocentrism on visitation intentions in a situation of conflict between the two nations and, thus, expands the empirical evidence accumulated to date on tourist behavior in conflict. The paper acts on the premise that if a connection between any two variables truly exists, it should be able to withstand variations in samples, timing of data collection and measurement, thus, leading to more robust findings.

System Justification and Affective Responses to Terrorism: Evidence from the November 2015 Paris Attacks

A large stream of research has shown that emotional reactions have a powerful impact on political choices and decision‐making processes. Yet little is known about individual‐level differences in experiencing specific emotions in the light of threatening events. In this article, we argue that system justification, or the endorsement and bolstering of existing social and political arrangements, is positively associated with the experience of positive emotions and negatively associated with the experience of negative emotions in the light of threat. We test our hypotheses using a study conducted a few days after the November 13, 2015, Paris terror attacks on a large sample in France. Our results show that system justification was positively associated with experiencing hope in the light of the attacks and negatively associated with experiencing fear and anger. Moreover, the size of these effects exceeded the respective size of other psychological characteristics such as authoritarianism, conservatism, and national attachment. These findings extend research on the palliative function of system justification to the domain of emotional responses to terrorist shocks.

The Influence of Animosity, Ethnocentric Tendencies, and National Attachment on Tourists’ Decision-Making Processes during International Conflicts

This study expands the empirical evidence amassed to date concerning tourists’ decision-making processes in a situation of conflict between a country of origin’s market and country of destination. It uses the constructs of animosity, national attachment, consumer ethnocentrism, country image, and perceptions of the state of bilateral relations in order to examine three intent to visit scenarios. To obtain the robust results, the study uses two methods of analysis from distinctly different repertoires of techniques, such as traditional statistical and data-mining approaches, and applies them to each scenario. The results consistently indicate a high level of influence of general animosity and ethnocentric tendencies in addition to country image and bilateral relation variables in tourists’ decision making. The situational context of the study is the conflict between China, the country of origin, and South Korea, the country of destination, over the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system.

Differentiating between pure patriots and nationalistic patriots: A model of national attachment profiles and their socio-political attitudes

Patriotism and nationalism represent distinct forms of national attachment that often predict divergent attitudes. However, various combinations of high/low patriotism and nationalism might indicate different types of national attachment with distinct implications for socio-political attitudes. Applying Latent Profile Analysis to a large national sample of New Zealanders (N = 13,936), we identified seven unique national attachment profiles. Among these profiles were pure patriots (10.6%) who exhibited high patriotism but low nationalism, whereas nationalistic patriots (33.1%) were equally patriotic but expressed mid-to-high levels of nationalism. Membership in profiles low in national attachment was uncommon, and we found no evidence of a high nationalism, low patriotism profile. In terms of the correlates of profile membership, pure patriots had the most positive attitudes toward immigrants, while low attachment profiles expressed particularly liberal political orientations and voting intentions. Accordingly, these analyses identify distinct profiles of citizens with important implications for social and political attitudes.

Presidents’ Ethnic Identity and Citizens’ National Attachment in Africa

Does the ethnic identity of a country’s leader have an effect on citizens’ national identity? This question is particularly relevant in ethnically diverse states in Africa where national identity is commonly regarded as underdeveloped and ethnic divisions are socially salient. I argue that citizens’ national attachment is affected by the ethnic origin of their countries’ presidents. Using cross-country data from the Afrobarometer on levels of national attachment over time, combined with data on leaders’ ethnicities, I show that following a presidential transition national identification among the new presidents’ coethnics increases relative to that of non-coethnics.

Understanding Emerging Adults’ National Attachments and Their Reactions to Athlete Activism

Recently, striking numbers of U.S. professional athletes have protested social injustices during the customary pregame national anthem (e.g., not standing in protest to police brutality). Fans have met athletes’ protests with mixed reactions, thus calling into question whether fans’ national attachments might help explain their reactions. In this empirical study of emerging adults ( N = 514), we posit and find that disapproval of athlete activism is related significantly to overall national attachment. Decomposing national attachment into its respective subdimensions, we also find that fans’ disapproval relates most strongly to uncritical patriotism followed by national identity, symbolic patriotism, and constructive patriotism. Leveraging partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) and importance-performance analyses, we offer a rare multifaceted look into how national attachments can shape fans’ reactions to athletes’ social protest behaviors.

Does Charity Begin at Home? National Identity and Donating to Domestic Versus International Charities

Despite the increased social significance currently attached to national identity, little is known about how national group attachment may correlate with the decision to donate to domestic versus international charities. The current study brings together literature on national identity and charitable giving to empirically validate a model of charitable ethnocentrism and cosmopolitanism. The substantive study is based on an online survey administered to a sample of 1004 UK respondents. The findings indicate that internationalism leads to an increased preference for international charities and a negative inclination towards domestic alternatives. Conversely, nationalism leads to a preference for domestic charities, but a surprisingly non-significant view on international causes. This study adds to the limited empirical research on charitable choice, specifically international giving, and has implications for fundraisers of both domestic and international charities. The work also provides valid and reliable scales for the assessment of charitable ethnocentrism and charitable cosmopolitanism.

Ethnic and cultural diversity in Europe: validating measures of ethnic and cultural background

ABSTRACTSocio-cultural and ethnic origin can be a powerful predictor of social attitudes and behaviours but, unlike the situation in the classical countries of immigration such as Australia, Canada and the USA, there is no standard measure in Europe for measuring ethnic background. The paper reports a new measure and classification, developed for the ESS and trialled in the ESS wave 7 (2014/2015). It describes the underlying theoretical concepts, structure and classification criteria and reports a range of substantive findings. The paper shows that the new measure of ethnic origins has both criterion and predictive validity: it predicts whether respondents identify themselves as belonging to an ethnic minority and whether they feel that theirs is a group which is discriminated against. It also predicts strength of national identity and attitudes towards immigration. A particular strength of the new measure is that it identifies both indigenous and (sub)national minorities as well those with a migration background. The paper shows that in some countries subnational minorities are quite distinctive, for example in their feelings of being discriminated against and in their low levels of national attachment.

A Multi-Method Approach to National Identity: From Individual Level Attachment to National Attachment

Background & motivation: The elusive nature of national identities poses a challenge for researchers. We overcome this challenge by adopting a multi-method approach to bring together the qualitative (national identity narratives) and quantitative (measurable dimensions) elements of national identities in compelling ways. Methods: Using convenience samples of German and Turkish university students (two countries with different political climates), we apply structural equation modeling and structural topic modeling to examine the subjective viewpoints in national identity perceptions. We also check what individual differences would potentially explain this subjectivity. Results: We discover three subjective viewpoints of national identification in the German sample; in the Turkish sample, students framed Turkish nationhood in four distinct ways. Our results also reveal that attachment style (a psychological trait, which is deeply embedded in an individual) plays a role in these subjective identification processes. Relevance & Implications: The overall results reveal the intricate subjective processes in national identification processes. We highlight the importance of multi-method research and suggest further research agenda.

Ethnic and National Attachment in the Rainbow Nation: The Case of the Republic of South Africa

Previous work concerning the interface between racial and national identification within multiracial states has suggested that dominant racial groups tend to express a firmer grip on ownership of and identification with the nation than is the case for racial minorities. This can occur despite inclusionary political rhetoric to the contrary and within nations regarded as civic rather than ethnic states. In this article, we explored the degree to which there were asymmetries in the interface between racial and national identities within the nation of South Africa, a state whose current political dispensation was founded on the principles of racial pluralism. We examined a large sample of South African citizens from the four officially recognized racial categories: Africans, Whites, Coloreds, and Indian/Asians. The results showed mixed support for the idea of South Africa as a “Rainbow Nation.”

Modeling American Migration Aspirations: How Capital, Race, and National Identity Shape Americans’ Ideas about Living Abroad

Recent scholarship proposes a “two-step” approach for better understanding mechanisms underlying the migration process, suggesting we study migration aspirations separately from migration behavior and that the one does not always translate directly into the other. Research on aspirations, however, concentrates on the Global South, despite growing migration flows originating in the Global North. Here, we fill this gap, drawing on a nationally representative online survey we commissioned in 2014 in the United States. Bivariate analysis shows that fully one-third of Americans surveyed reveal some aspiration to live abroad, a plurality of those primarily for the purpose of exploration. Multivariate analysis suggests that certain elements of cultural and social capital, including the networks Americans have with prior and current US citizen migrants, structure these aspirations, in tandem with strength of national attachment. Further, both cultural and economic aspects of class, alongside race and national attachment, shape where American aspirants envision going and why. While the existing literature addresses the motivations and profile of American migrants already living abroad, ours is the first study to examine Americans’ aspirations prospectively from the point of origin, thereby connecting the literature on Global North migration flows to that on migration aspirations.

A Primer for a New Terrain: Palestinian Schooling in Jordan, 1950

This article offers a close reading of the first geography textbook printed by the Ministry of Education after the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan annexed the West Bank in 1950. Examining the Hashemite regime's early curricular attempts to incorporate its new Palestinian citizens, refugees and otherwise, the article highlights the tactics used to achieve these ends, namely a topographic centralization of Jordan, an erasure of human geography in favor of a natural one, and the foreclosure of other forms of national attachment and belonging. The discussion seeks to expand our understanding of one of the most significant narrative materials confronted by Palestinians in the aftermath of the Nakba, seeing in it a possible mechanism by which to understand the challenges to Palestinian demands for a self-determined education.

Exploring everyday experiences of cultural diversity: The construction, validation, and application of the normative multiculturalism scale

AbstractThe 3‐factor structure of the Normative Multiculturalism Scale (NMS)—Contact with Diversity (CD), Multicultural Ideology (MI), and Multicultural Policies and Practices (MPP)—was tested and confirmed with community samples from New Zealand (N = 381) and the United States (N = 311). Correlations with criterion measures (e.g., perceived minority disadvantage and attitudes to diversity) supported the criterion validity of the subscales. NMS factors were then examined as predictors of social connectedness in a British community sample (N = 347). Hierarchical multiple regression revealed that MI predicted general trust, and MI and MPP predicted national attachment. While MPP was associated with greater perceived threat, this relationship was dampened by the joint influences of MI and CD. The research presents a novel perspective on multiculturalism by adopting a normative approach and examining the main and interaction effects of contact with diversity, multicultural ideology, and multicultural policies on interpersonal and intergroup outcomes.

Moral Hazard: German Public Opinion on the Greek Debt Crisis

The recent Eurozone crisis and negotiations over bailout packages to Greece are more than a simple controversy about financial resources. They have a decidedly moralistic overtone. Giving more funds is thought by some to be unfair to hard‐working taxpayers and does not teach Greece an important moral lesson. Yet much international political economy scholarship neglects such considerations. We build on moral psychology to understand the ethical drivers of both German support and opposition to the 2015 Greek government bailout package. We analyze original survey data to show how morality is an essential factor in Germany's hard‐line approach. Our results show that caring and European attachment are associated with bailout support, while authority, national attachment, and retributive fairness drive opposition. Some morals also have boundaries: National attachment attenuates the effect of harm/care on support for foreign financial assistance but strengthens the effect of fairness on bailout opposition. Moral psychology helps us understand foreign policy but must be adapted to account for multiple potential ingroups.

National attachments and the immigrant participation gap

ABSTRACT The paper adds insights to the ongoing discussion about how the political participation gap between naturalised immigrants and native citizens can be closed. In contrast to prior research, however, it takes a new turn by looking at the moderating role of national attachments, namely national identity and patriotism, in the relationship between immigration background and political involvement. The research question is explored based on the paradigmatic case of Switzerland with its high levels of foreign born citizens and the historically strong identification as a political nation. Based on the results we can say that national attachments are indeed able to bridge the participation gap. The effect of patriotism – the evaluative dimension of national attachment – thereby plays a more important role for immigrants than simple national identification.

Intention to travel internationally and domestically in unstable world

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine whether events such as acts of terrorism, political and social turmoil, military conflicts, epidemics, and similar influence preferences of Russian tourists for international and domestic travel (DT) and the role of psychographic and demographic factors in this process.Design/methodology/approachThe study is a survey of 139 international tourists from a large Russian city. Variables representing the influence of instability in the world on selecting international vacations (unstable world, UW) and the willingness to turn to DT instead (domestic tourism, DT) were operationalized. The study operationalized the constructs of national attachment and consumer ethnocentrism and then converted them into manifest variables, NAT and CET. Hierarchical linear regression and logistic regression were conducted to investigate the relationship between UW and DT variables and personal factors. Supporting ANOVA and χ2 tests were conducted to further explore those relationships.FindingsThe study found that being a female, older and more attached to the homeland make Russian tourists more receptive to threats and risks of international travel; however, being wealthier, makes them less susceptible to those threats. Those with higher ethnocentric tendencies are more likely to turn to DT instead, while those with higher income are less likely.Originality/valueThe study does not pertain to a particular “destination-negative event” context. Nor the study is interested in a particular travel risk or whether or not Russian tourists perceive international travel as risky. The study focuses on to what degree those perceptions influence their decisions to travel internationally or domestically. Psychographic consumer ethnocentrism and national attachment variables that are rarely used in tourism studies were employed to better understand the destination selection process of Russian tourists in the UW.

Marketing to Tourists from Unfriendly Countries: Should We Even Try?

This study employs a two-group pretest–posttest experimental design to investigate to what extent promotional materials affect the image perceptions, attitudes, and behavioral intentions of potential tourists toward a country-vacation destination in a situation of political and economic conflict between the two nations. Specifically, the study focuses on such psychographic characteristics of tourists as animosity toward the destination country, national attachment to their own country, and consumer ethnocentrism to investigate whether these traits can inhibit the effectiveness of the promotional materials. The findings of the study indicate that intermediate effects of destination advertising include changes in perceptions of country values and overall attitudes. The results also suggest that the amount of change depends on the individual’s level of psychographic variables, most notably animosity.

Relacije između etnocentrizma i nacionalne vezanosti

Belonging and being attached to various social groups such as nationality and ethnicity, can have a significant motivational effect. At the same time, a sense of national attachment can develop into ethnocentrism and become a source of hostility and conflicts among members of different nations, with conflicts in the immediate past contributing to greater manifestations of certain forms of national attachment, and even ethnocentrism. That is why the objectives of this paper were to: (1) determine prominence of ethnocentrism and different forms of national attachment in young people of Serbian nationality in Kosovo and Metohija (345 respondents, average age AS=19,36) (2) investigate what kind of relationship exists between ethnocentrism and national attachment. Instruments used in the research were the Ethnocentrism Scale (Sram, 2010) and Scale of National Attachment Forms (Rot and Havelka, 1973). The results show that of all aspects of ethnocentrism, respondents manifest the greatest degree of national homogenization, distinguished by a strong need for national unity, while the most accentuated form of national attachment is prominent national attachment, characterized by idealizing one's own nation and emphasizing the feeling of patriotism. Prominent and exclusive forms of national attachment correlate with all the aspects of ethnocentrism which supports the claim that those individuals who are characterized by a high degree of national idealization, which is a feature of both prominent and exclusive national attachment, often demonstrate a certain tendency to react in an ethnocentric way.

Odrednice predrasuda prema nacionalnim manjinama: provjera uloge različitih oblika nacionalne vezanosti

The aim of this study was to explore relative contribution of several dispositional (right-wing authoritarianism and social dominance orientation) identity (national identity, nationalism and cosmopolitism) and situational antecedents (perception of intergroup threat) of subtle and blatant ethnic prejudice, along with multigroup moderation effect of national identity. The participants were 582 undergraduate students of University of Zagreb. Research has shown that high and low national identifiers significantly differ in all measures, except on orientation on social domination. Path analysis of composite results on latent variable has proven significant role of symbolic intergroup threat and dispositional factors in prediction of prejudice toward national minorities, whereas national attachment and national identity strength did not have strong impact on prediction. Implications of these results, namely limited possibilities for predicting subtle prejudice with this set of predictors, will be thoroughly discussed in this paper.

The Relationship between the Brexit Vote and Individual Predictors of Prejudice: Collective Narcissism, Right Wing Authoritarianism, Social Dominance Orientation.

The Leave campaign in the U.K., which advocated exiting the European Union, emphasized anxiety over immigration and the need to take control of the U.K.'s borders. Citizens who expressed concerns about immigration to the U.K. were more likely to vote to leave. Two correlational studies examined the previously unexplored question of whether the Brexit vote and support for the outcome of the E.U. referendum were linked to individual predictors of prejudice toward foreigners: British collective narcissism (a belief in national greatness), right wing authoritarianism, and social dominance orientation. The results converged to indicate that all three variables were independently related to the perceived threat of immigrants and, via this variable, to the Brexit vote and a support for the outcome of the E.U. referendum. These variables explained the variance in the perceived threat of immigrants and support for the Brexit vote over and above other previously examined predictors such as age, education, or ethnicity, as well as, national identification and national attachment.