Democratic Like Us? Political Orientation and the Effect of Making Democracy Salient on Anti-Israel Attitude. Issue 1 (28th October 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lelkes, Yphtach; Malka, Ariel; Sheets, Penelope
• Is Part Of: Journal of experimental political science. Volume 3:Issue 1(2016)
• Page Start: 97
• Page End: 107
• Publication Date: 2015-10-28
• Subjects: Ideology, -- anti-Semitism, -- political attitudes, -- Israel, -- prejudice; Political science -- Periodicals; Political science -- Research -- Periodicals; Political science -- Methodology -- Periodicals; 320.0724
• DOI: 10.1017/XPS.2015.13
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2052-2630

Abstract

Abstract: Israel is viewed unfavorably among wide segments of the public within several European democracies, despite being regarded itself as a Western democracy. Does drawing attention to Israel's democratic attributes improve views toward Israel? In two surveys with Dutch national samples, anti-Semitic affect, low anti-Arab/Muslim affect, and left-wing political orientation independently predicted anti-Israel sentiment. However, in experiments embedded within the surveys, making salient Israel's democratic attributes had opposite effects on Israel attitude across those on the right and the left – slightly decreasing anti-Israel sentiment among those with a right-wing orientation but slightly increasing anti-Israel sentiment among those with a left-wing orientation. We discuss potential explanations grounded in social psychological theory as well as implications for the strategic communication efforts of groups seeking to influence attitudes toward Israel.