Rally ‘Round the Flag Effects

People like leaders when there is a crisis.

Takeaway Points

  1. Leader approval ratings jump at the start of an international crisis.
  2. This creates incentives for a principal-agent problem; a leader might instigate a conflict under false pretenses to benefit from the rally.
  3. The UNSC provides third party oversight. A “yes” vote from the Council indicates to citizens that their governments are right in their initiation of the conflict.