Origins of U.S. Public Opinion for Drone Strikes: The Intersection of Elite Rhetoric, Media Coverage, and American Public Opinion, 2000-2015

Cohen, Grant M. (2018) Origins of U.S. Public Opinion for Drone Strikes: The Intersection of Elite Rhetoric, Media Coverage, and American Public Opinion, 2000-2015. PhD thesis, University of Miami.

PDF (Origins of U.S. Public Opinion for Drone Strikes: The Intersection of Elite Rhetoric, Media Coverage, and American Public Opinion, 2000-2015) Grant M. Cohen.pdf - Accepted Version Restricted to Repository staff only Download (1MB) | Request a copy

Abstract

Armed, unmanned aerial vehicles have been an increasingly important tool of US foreign policy since the George W. Bush era, and emerged as the Barack Obama administration’s weapon of choice. Some say drone strikes are necessary to reduce American casualties abroad and protect lives at home, while others argue they terrorize communities and violate the sovereignty of states throughout the world. Meanwhile, the American public has consistently supported this controversial tactic, while most of the world – including close US allies – oppose it. In this dissertation, I analyze congressional rhetoric, presidential rhetoric and mainstream TV news content regarding the use of drones from 2000 through 2015, and compare the results to nationally representative surveys that measure support and opposition for drone strikes. The findings show a significant relationship between the frequency and types of messages espoused by elites and media, and US public opinion. This result has important implications for the democratic process and the origins of Americans’ perception of the use of force, and shows support for both framing effects and indexing theory.

Item Type:	Thesis (PhD)
Additional Information:	It has been accepted for inclusion in Open Access Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Scholarly Repository
Subjects:	Z Bibliography. Library Science. Information Resources > Z665 Library Science. Information Science Z Bibliography. Library Science. Information Resources > ZA Information resources
Divisions:	Comparative
Depositing User:	Geoffrey Obatsa
Date Deposited:	02 Aug 2018 09:08
Last Modified:	02 Aug 2018 09:08
URI:	http://thesisbank.jhia.ac.ke/id/eprint/8334

Actions (login required)

View Item