Atomic Aversion: Experimental Evidence on Taboos, Traditions, and the Non-Use of Nuclear Weapons

@article{Press2013AtomicAE,
  title={Atomic Aversion: Experimental Evidence on Taboos, Traditions, and the Non-Use of Nuclear Weapons},
  author={Daryl G. Press and S. Sagan and B. Valentino},
  journal={American Political Science Review},
  year={2013},
  volume={107},
  pages={188 - 206}
}
  • Daryl G. Press, S. Sagan, B. Valentino
  • Published 2013
  • Political Science
  • American Political Science Review
    • How strong are normative prohibitions on state behavior? We examine this question by analyzing anti-nuclear norms, sometimes called the “nuclear taboo,” using an original survey experiment to evaluate American attitudes regarding nuclear use. We find that the public has only a weak aversion to using nuclear weapons and that this aversion has few characteristics of an “unthinkable” behavior or taboo. Instead, public attitudes about whether to use nuclear weapons are driven largely by… CONTINUE READING
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    88 Citations
    Background Citations
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    Methods Citations
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    Results Citations
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