Journal Article - Quarterly Journal: International Security

Words Matter: The Effect of Moral Language on International Bargaining

    Author:
  • Abigail S. Post
| Summer 2023

Summary

States that use moral language to frame a dispute make peaceful resolution less likely. One state’s moralizing leads the opponent to follow suit. Willingness to concede then frustrates both opponents and elicits accusations of hypocrisy from domestic audiences in both states. Moralizing the issue reduces opportunities for compromise and narrows the bargaining range. The case of the Falkland Islands/Islas Malvinas dispute explores the theory.

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For more information on this publication: Belfer Communications Office
For Academic Citation:

Abigail S. Post, "Words Matter: The Effect of Moral Language on International Bargaining," International Security 48, no. 1 (Summer 2023), 125–165, https://doi.org/10.1162/isec_a_00466. 

The Author

Abigail S. Post

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