Breaking Bad? Survey Experiments May Desensitize Americans to War Crimes

What affects Americans’ sensitivity to international laws on the use of force?

Recent IR literature explores this through survey experiments using fictional scenarios. But a new question emerges: could these very experiments influence public awareness themselves?

This study reveals that participating in surveys about war crimes can negatively impact understanding of US legal and ethical obligations in conflict. It also finds that past research findings on war crime approval may overstate public support.

Key Findings

• Exposure to survey questions regarding war crimes desensitizes respondents to these norms.
• The study's results challenge previous claims about high American tolerance for war crimes.

Research Implications

Survey designers must consider their methodology's potential impact on participants' understanding and responses of international law. This raises concerns about the validity of past experimental findings in this domain.