Open AccessThe psychology of separation: Border walls, soft power, and international neighborliness
Author(s) -
Diana C Mutz,
Beth A. Simmons
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
proceedings of the national academy of sciences of the united states of america
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.011
H-Index - 771
eISSN - 1091-6490
pISSN - 0027-8424
DOI - 10.1073/pnas.2117797119
Subject(s) - attractiveness , context (archaeology) , soft power , politics , power (physics) , government (linguistics) , political science , control (management) , social psychology , political economy , sociology , law , psychology , geography , economics , physics , linguistics , philosophy , management , archaeology , quantum mechanics , psychoanalysis
Significance Studies to date have focused on the impact of border walls on national security, transborder crime, and the environment. This study addresses how border walls affect the way a country is viewed by the citizens of other countries, all else being equal. Using an experimental design that is replicated in the United States, Ireland, and Turkey, we find that the presence of walls on borders harms countries’ international image. This is especially true if the country is known to have been the builder of the wall. Walls also lower evaluations of the bordering countries’ bilateral relationship. Although the presence of a wall increases perceptions of a country’s border security, paradoxically it lowers the perceived security of people within the country.