New Findings
New research reveals American public reactions to foreign electoral intervention through experiments. The study finds that even modest interventions polarize citizens along partisan lines.
Partisan Polarization
Americans condemn foreign involvement more when a power supports the opposition than when supporting their own party. This exposure also leads to greater loss of faith in democracy and increased calls for retaliation.
Rejection of Military Response
Interestingly, Americans reject military responses even when their own political party is targeted by electoral attacks on U.S., despite readily condemning similar actions against their opponents abroad.
Broader Implications
These findings suggest that foreign election interference can significantly divide adversaries and weaken democratic institutions without triggering the same public demand for conventional military retaliation seen in other contexts.
