Attitudes toward the Use of Force: Instrumental Imperatives, Moral Principles, and International Law

What informs ordinary citizens' attitudes toward the use of force? Previous research identifies several key concerns in public opinion war, but does not directly evaluate relative importance these considerations. We articulate three distinct logics war support—moral, legal, and instrumental—and an experimental survey with 3,000 U.S. respondents to test how citizens make trade-offs among multiple competing imperatives relevant for decision making war. Our design is first isolate what extent substantive legal demands, instrumental military imperatives, specific moral principles are reflected respondents' preferences. Although all have some resonance, we find that preferences remarkably consistent core demands international law even though told legality force at stake. Only imperative minimize casualties overwhelms both demands.