General Speaker Series: Hein Goemans (University of Rochester)

Title: Maps to die for?

Abstract: In modern wars, citizens are asked to sacrifice for country and homeland. Nationalism is thought to motivate people to make such sacrifices yet it is not clear how nationalism overcomes collective action problems and free riding, particularly for something as costly as participation in organized violence. One potential solution is that \textit{maps} foster group norms strong enough to promote successful collective action. However, theoretical mechanisms are lacking and empirical tests absent. To remedy these problems, we first briefly sketch two mechanisms that connect maps to group identity and a greater willingness to sacrifice for the country. Second, we conduct survey experiments in four Latin American countries: Bolivia, Chile, Argentina and Colombia as well as in Thailand. We show that exposure to a map of one's homeland significantly affects markers of national identity and increased respondents' willingness to make the ultimate sacrifice to defend the homeland.