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A note on the endogeneity of attacker and defender roles in asymmetric conflicts

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 August 2019

Hannes Rusch Open the ORCID record for Hannes Rusch [Opens in a new window]  and
Robert Böhm Open the ORCID record for Robert Böhm [Opens in a new window]
Hannes Rusch
Affiliation:
Public Economics Group, School of Business and Economics, University of Marburg, 35032 Marburg, Germanyhannes.rusch@tum.dehrusch.de School of Management, TU München, 80333 Munich, Germany
Robert Böhm
Affiliation:
School of Business and Economics, RWTH Aachen University, 52062 Aachen, Germany. robert.boehm@rwth-aachen.derobertboehm.info
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Abstract

We argue that the roles of attacker and defender in asymmetric intergroup conflict are structurally ambiguous and their perception is likely to be subjectively biased. Although this allows for endogenous selection into each role, we argue that claiming the role of the defender likely is more advantageous for conflict participants.

Information

Type
Open Peer Commentary
Information
Behavioral and Brain Sciences , Volume 42 , 2019 , e139
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Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2019 

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