Why might audience costs affect the possibility of war?
A)The states in a dispute may decide to hold secret negotiations so that privileged information will not become public.
B)Members of the United Nations Security Council may feel peer pressure to vote in favor of an intervention to prevent war.
C)An elected leader may make a threat and be compelled to carry it out in order to get reelected.
D)Third-party countries observing a conflict may decide to become involved.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Audience costs refer to the negative consequences that leaders face for making decisions that appear to be weak or ineffective in the eyes of their domestic audience. If a leader makes a threat to another country and fails to follow through, their domestic audience may perceive them as weak, damaging their reputation and making it harder for them to win reelection. This can increase the likelihood of war, as the leader may feel compelled to carry out their threat to avoid audience costs.

Why Might Audience Costs Affect the Possibility of War