ELAC Co-Director Professor Janina Dill has published a new article in Foreign Affairs exploring the role of local consent in shaping public support for military intervention.
In “Greeted as Liberators,” Professor Dill argues that claims of local consent are often used to justify military action, but should not be assumed without evidence. Drawing on research with Emily Myers and Livia Schubiger, the article shows that Americans are more likely to support intervention when they believe the local population wants it. The research suggests that consent is understood not only as a strategic factor, but also as a matter of moral principle.
Professor Dill’s article also highlights the ethical and political risks of misrepresenting the preferences of populations affected by intervention. She argues that policymakers should make good-faith efforts to establish what local people actually want before claiming to act on their behalf.
