Nationalist political elites and territorial disputes: A cross‐national investigation

Abstract This study explores the consequences of nationalist governing elites for states' territorial behaviours. We argue that political elites who promote nationalist ideologies and stoke nationalistic fervour are often more inclined to initiate or escalate territorial disputes with other nations. They are likely to perceive greater values of territory, while they underestimate the perceived costs associated with territorial disputes. Analysing all territorial claims from 1901 to 2001, our research reveals compelling evidence that nationalistic political elites are more likely to initiate territorial disputes and less likely to seek peaceful resolutions, particularly when the contested territory possesses intangible salience.