The preoccupation of the United Nations with Israel: Evidence and theory

Raphael N. Becker; Arye L. Hillman; Niklas Potrafke; Alexander H. Schwemmer

doi:10.1007/s11558-014-9207-3

The preoccupation of the United Nations with Israel: Evidence and theory

Raphael N. Becker, Arye L. Hillman, Niklas Potrafke, Alexander H. Schwemmer

Department of Economics

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

20 Scopus citations

Abstract

We compiled data on all United Nations General Assembly resolutions on which voting took place between January 1990 and June 2013 and find a preoccupation with one country: in 65 % of instances in which a country is criticized in a resolution, the country is Israel, with no other country criticized in more than 10 % of resolutions. We use comparative quantitative criteria to confirm that Israel is subject to discrimination. To explain the motives for discrimination, we present a model of behavioral political economy that includes decoy voting, vanity of autocrats, and a Schelling focal point for deflection of criticism. The model includes a role for traditional prejudice. Our conclusions more generally concern political culture in the United Nations.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	413-437
Number of pages	25
Journal	Review of International Organizations
Volume	10
Issue number	4
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s11558-014-9207-3
State	Published - 25 Dec 2014

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2014, Springer Science+Business Media New York.

Keywords

Decoy voting
Discrimination
Expressive voting
Focal point
Logrolling
Political culture
Prejudice
United Nations General Assembly voting

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10.1007/s11558-014-9207-3

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The preoccupation of the United Nations with Israel: Evidence and theory

Abstract

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Keywords

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