Attention beyond the battlefield: Voters’ responses to foreign military investments

Nadiya Kostyuk; Ryan Shandler

doi:10.1177/07388942251339414

Attention beyond the battlefield: Voters’ responses to foreign military investments

Nadiya Kostyuk
, Ryan Shandler

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

This study examines how voters respond to non-crisis military developments, focusing on general military, cyber, and nuclear capabilities. Using a survey experiment, it explores how information about these developments shapes voters’ preferences for US military spending. The findings show that voters are especially attentive to foreign cyber build-ups, with some assessing these developments rationally, while others rely on heuristics. These results offer a nuanced understanding of how emerging military technologies influence public perceptions and decision-making on military spending in the digital era.

Original language	English
Article number	07388942251339414
Journal	Conflict Management and Peace Science
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1177/07388942251339414
State	Accepted/In press - 2025
Externally published	Yes

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2025.

Keywords

cyber power
cyber-capabilities
emerging technologies
heuristic reasoning
international security
militarization
public opinion
rational scrutiny
survey experiments

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Economics and Econometrics
Political Science and International Relations

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10.1177/07388942251339414

Cite this

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abstract = "This study examines how voters respond to non-crisis military developments, focusing on general military, cyber, and nuclear capabilities. Using a survey experiment, it explores how information about these developments shapes voters{\textquoteright} preferences for US military spending. The findings show that voters are especially attentive to foreign cyber build-ups, with some assessing these developments rationally, while others rely on heuristics. These results offer a nuanced understanding of how emerging military technologies influence public perceptions and decision-making on military spending in the digital era.",

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KW - cyber power

KW - cyber-capabilities

KW - emerging technologies

KW - heuristic reasoning

KW - international security

KW - militarization

KW - public opinion

KW - rational scrutiny

KW - survey experiments

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Attention beyond the battlefield: Voters’ responses to foreign military investments

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Access to Document

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