Ambivalence in the Context of Competing Narratives: Exploration Through a Case of the US Military Base Issue in Okinawa

Abstract

The current research focused on how competing narratives (i.e., dominant and resistance narratives) are endorsed among low-status group members, through the case of the US military base issue in Okinawa, Japan. Specifically, we explored patterns of Okinawans’ narrative endorsement (i.e., dominant and resistance narratives surrounding the presence of US military in Okinawa), as well as their behavioural responses (e.g., resistance and compliance) using survey responses of Okinawan participants (N = 172). Following the identification of factors in narrative endorsement and behavioural responses through exploratory factor analyses, we identified narrative profiles of participants through a latent profile analysis. Then, we mapped narrative profiles, behavioural responses and social positions (i.e., gender, age and educational background) in understanding the relationship among these constructs. The results revealed that participants’ narrative endorsement was often ambivalent, as many of them endorsed both dominant and resistance narratives to some degree. The results also showed that participants’ narrative profile was significantly related to their behavioural responses. Implications regarding the conceptualization of narrative endorsement and its behavioural consequences are further discussed.