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Following Orders or Following the Oath? Assessing Democratic Norm Endorsement Among Service Academy Cadets

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Listed:
  • Risa A. Brooks
  • Michael A. Robinson
  • Heidi A. Urben

Abstract

How strongly embraced within the officer corps is the commitment to supporting and defending the Constitution and to the ethic of nonpartisanship? This article answers that question through a 2019/2020 survey of 1,470 service academy students, including with a list experiment. The results show that cadets engage in what we term “selective endorsement†of norms, whereby they endorse norms as long as they are not in tension with their partisan identities. In particular, the list experiment reveals that when provided an opportunity to obscure their preferences, many cadets supported following civilian orders, even those at odds with democratic traditions—and that partisan dynamics may play a role in determining how they respond. The article has important implications for scholarly research on norm robustness and socialization, as well as practical consequences for civil-military relations in light of ongoing challenges to democracy in the United States today.

Suggested Citation

  • Risa A. Brooks & Michael A. Robinson & Heidi A. Urben, 2024. "Following Orders or Following the Oath? Assessing Democratic Norm Endorsement Among Service Academy Cadets," Journal of Conflict Resolution, Peace Science Society (International), vol. 68(7-8), pages 1279-1306, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:jocore:v:68:y:2024:i:7-8:p:1279-1306
    DOI: 10.1177/00220027231195385
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Corstange, Daniel, 2009. "Sensitive Questions, Truthful Answers? Modeling the List Experiment with LISTIT," Political Analysis, Cambridge University Press, vol. 17(1), pages 45-63, January.
    2. Graham, Matthew H. & Svolik, Milan W., 2020. "Democracy in America? Partisanship, Polarization, and the Robustness of Support for Democracy in the United States," American Political Science Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 114(2), pages 392-409, May.
    3. Svolik, Milan W., 2020. "When Polarization Trumps Civic Virtue: Partisan Conflict and the Subversion of Democracy by Incumbents," Quarterly Journal of Political Science, now publishers, vol. 15(1), pages 3-31, January.
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