The Polarization of U.S. Alliances: Domestic Division and America’s Commitment to International Security
Journal: Democracy and Security
Year: 2025

Democracies are considered particularly reliable allies as their political elites are accountable to their voters and party, prohibiting them from reneging on alliance commitments. Yet heightened polarization in the U.S. raises questions about this political support system of U.S. alliances. Combining the literature on audience costs with research on polarization and U.S. foreign policy, this article theorizes how partisan and ideological polarization negatively affects U.S. commitment to securi