Open AccessAnti‐ A mericanism, Authoritarian Politics, and Attitudes about Women's Representation: Evidence from a Survey Experiment in J ordan
Author(s) -
Bush Sarah Sunn,
Jamal Amaney A.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
international studies quarterly
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.897
H-Index - 100
eISSN - 1468-2478
pISSN - 0020-8833
DOI - 10.1111/isqu.12139
Subject(s) - opposition (politics) , public opinion , authoritarianism , politics , representation (politics) , foreign policy , political science , democracy , middle east , anti americanism , pillar , political economy , sociology , law , structural engineering , engineering
A pillar of A merican foreign policy in the M iddle E ast since S eptember 11, 2001, has been promoting democracy, with particular emphasis on support for women's representation. Given high levels of anti‐ A mericanism in the region, does foreign pressure for policy reform undermine this project? Evidence from a nationally representative survey experiment in J ordan shows that an A merican endorsement of women in politics has no average effect on popular support for women's representation. Instead, domestic patterns of support and opposition to autocrats determine citizens' receptivity to policy endorsements, with policy endorsements of foreign‐supported reforms polarizing public opinion. Both foreign and domestic endorsements of women in politics depress support among J ordanians who oppose their regime significantly more than among J ordanians who support it.