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The heritability of foreign policy preferences
Skyler J Cranmer1, Christopher T Dawes
1Department of Political Science, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3265, USA. Skyler@unc.edu
Summary
Genetic factors significantly influence foreign policy attitudes, suggesting a biological basis for hawkish or dovish stances. Political ideology may mediate the link between genes and foreign policy preferences.
Area of Science:
- Behavioral genetics
- Political psychology
- Social sciences
Background:
- Traditional explanations for foreign policy attitudes focus on ideology and demographics.
- A gap exists in understanding the biological underpinnings of foreign policy preferences.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the extent to which genetic variation influences foreign policy attitudes.
- To explore the relationship between genetic factors, political ideology, and foreign policy preferences.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the Minnesota Twin Family Study.
- Employed a bivariate twin model to analyze genetic influences.
Main Results:
- A moderate proportion of individual differences in foreign policy preferences (hawkish/dovish) is attributable to genetic variation.
- Foreign policy preferences share a common genetic source with political ideology.
Conclusions:
- Genetic factors play a role in shaping foreign policy attitudes.
- Political ideology may act as a mediating pathway for genetic influences on foreign policy preferences.
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