Torture and Public Opinion: The Partisan Dimension

  • Peter Miller
  • Paul Gronke
  • Darius Rejali
Chapter

Abstract

Using a new survey dataset on torture collected during the 2008 and 2010 elections, combined with a comprehensive archive of public opinion on torture that we have assembled, we show, first, that a majority of Americans were opposed to government use of torture, even when asked about an imminent terrorist attack, until just before the 2008 election. Since then, the public has shown a slim majority in favor of torture. Second, we show that Americans’ approval of torture is a socially mediated response. That is, respondents, when evaluating whether or not the use of torture is justified, look to what they perceive others to believe, in helping them determine their response. This is true across all ideological groups. Third, we argue that increasing support for torture in the United States is almost entirely among Republican survey respondents. Independents also shifted from anti-torture to pro-torture sentiments though they show a much smaller increase in support for torture over the 2000s. The sentiments of Democratic respondents did not change; the majority of Democrats then and now remain opposed to torture.

Keywords

Public Opinion Death Penalty Bush Administration Public Opinion Poll Public Opinion Research 
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.
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Copyright information

© Tracy Lightcap and James P. Pfiffner 2014

Authors and Affiliations

  • Peter Miller
  • Paul Gronke
  • Darius Rejali

There are no affiliations available

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