National Pride, Economic Evaluation, and Public Support for Economic Sanctions: The Case of Japan’s Economic Sanctions Against South Korea

This study addresses a research gap by exploring the impact of emotional factors, specifically national pride, on public support for economic sanctions, which has received relatively limited attention compared to the strategic aspects of sanctions. Our proposal posits that citizens’ national pride, acting as a symbolic motivation, particularly in the context of hostile national competition, can result in increased support for economic sanctions. Furthermore, we suggest that among individuals with strong national pride, the likelihood of supporting economic sanctions tends to rise as their economic perceptions improve. To investigate this relationship, we analyzed data from Japan Electoral Study VI, conducted during Japan’s economic sanctions against South Korea in 2019. These findings reveal that national pride significantly shapes public opinion on economic sanctions and that among individuals with strong national pride, positive perceptions of economic conditions act as a catalyst, strengthening their support for economic sanctions.