Nicolas Berman (Aix Marseille School of Economics )

Panic Politics on the US West Coast

Abstract: This study demonstrates that military attacks, through fear and panic, can shift political behavior and attitudes toward more conservative positions. Analyzing the 1942 Ellwood bombardment on the US mainland, the study finds that areas closer to the attack experienced increased fear-related language in newspapers, arise in conservative vocabulary, and higher Republican vote shares. This conservative shift persisted after the war, with both local newspapers and politicians in congress adapting their rhetoric. The findings suggest that psychological impacts of attacks can have lasting effects on political preferences.

Joint work with Bjorn Brey (NHH Bergen) and Jérémy Laurent-Lucchetti (University of Geneva)