The Psychology of Fear and Global Conflict: How Collective Anxiety Shapes International Relations
Journal: International Journal of Advanced Multidisciplinary Research and Studies
Year: 2025

This article explores the psychological mechanisms through which fear, insecurity, and group identity influence international relations, diplomatic decision-making, alliance formation, and conflict escalation. Integrating theories from political psychology, emotion research, and social identity theory, it examines collective anxiety as a key driver in major global conflicts, focusing on the NATO–Russia and China–U.S. rivalries. Fear, as an evolutionarily grounded emotion, biases threat perceptio