The structure of foreign policy attitudes among middle power publics: a transpacific replication

Gravelle, T. B., Reifler, J. and Scotto, T. J. (2021) The structure of foreign policy attitudes among middle power publics: a transpacific replication. Australian Journal of International Affairs, 75(2), pp. 217-236. (doi: 10.1080/10357718.2020.1831435)

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Abstract

Empirical models illustrating how mass publics organise their views on foreign policy issues abound. Models that posit militant internationalism and cooperative internationalism as the two factors structuring mass foreign policy attitudes and that typically rely on American survey data have given way to models positing a larger number of underlying factors supported by cross-national survey data. Still, there are few studies assessing the cross-national validity of multi-factor models. Further, middle power states that must navigate between international leadership and followership remain understudied. This article draws on new survey data from Canada and Australia—two archetypal middle power states—to replicate a recent and influential model of foreign policy attitudes comprised of four factors: cooperative internationalism, militant internationalism, isolationism, and support for global justice. Using an exploratory structural equation modelling (ESEM) framework, it finds that the four-factor structure of foreign policy attitudes observed in the United States, United Kingdom, France and Germany obtains among the Canadian and Australian publics, yet there are country-specific nuances that suggest differences in the ways Canadians and Australians perceive foreign policy options.

Item Type:Articles
Additional Information:Survey data collection in Canada and Australia was supported by internal grants to Gravelle from the University of Melbourne, Faculty of Arts. Survey data collection for the American and European cases was supported by ESRC grants ES/H010246/1 and ES/L011867/1 to Scotto and Scotto and Reifler, respectively.
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Scotto, Professor Thomas
Authors: Gravelle, T. B., Reifler, J., and Scotto, T. J.
Subjects:J Political Science > JZ International relations
College/School:College of Social Sciences > School of Social and Political Sciences > Politics
Journal Name:Australian Journal of International Affairs
Publisher:Taylor and Francis
ISSN:1035-7718
ISSN (Online):1465-332X
Published Online:28 October 2020
Copyright Holders:Copyright © 2020 Australian Institute of International Affairs
First Published:First published in Australian Journal of International Affairs 75(2): 217-236
Publisher Policy:Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher

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