Contextual Effects of National Identity on Willingness to Fight: A Multilevel Analysis Using the World Values Survey

Abstract

National identity is widely assumed to be an important basis for individuals’ willingness to fight for their country; yet, most previous research has focused on individual-level identity, with limited attention to collective-level processes. Building on a conception of collective identity, this study distinguishes national identity at the individual level from national identity as a collective property of societies. Secondary analyses of data from Waves 5 (2005–2009) and 6 (2010–2014) of the World Values Survey involved multilevel modelling to estimate both individual- and collective-level associations between national identity and willingness to fight. National identity predicted willingness to fight at both levels in the multilevel models. Collective-level national identity remained a significant predictor of willingness to fight after controlling for secular and emancipative cultural values. The analysis of contextual effects further revealed that the relationship is stronger at the collective level than at the individual level. The findings suggest that collective-level national identity is a core element of the macro-level process through which the likelihood of war and conflict increases.