Political Science

Alena Smith

Flag and Faith: The Political Influence of Christian Nationalism in America
2023–24 American Democracy Fellowship

In recent years, journalists and academics have noticed a small but growing movement of Americans who have signaled support for Christian nationalism, an ideology that fuses religious and political identities. Its goal is to ensure a “Christian America” where Christianity is privileged by the state, and laws and legislators are expected to uphold certain religious beliefs. Recent proponents of this theory have opposed church-state separation, fought to bring prayer back into public schools, and attempted to fund Christian churches through government coffers. While many who decry the consequences of Christian nationalism point to the January 6th Capitol riot, where numerous rioters used overtly Christian banners and language, few have analyzed how Christian nationalism and religion more broadly are used by political candidates, legislators, and the law. Understanding how voters view candidates who support these ideals, for example, is a crucial component to determine whether these candidates are likely to get into office and enact policies favorable to their ideology.
 

My research plans to fill this void by studying the electoral influence of Christian nationalist candidates by analyzing how voters view candidates who signal their support for Christian nationalism. Furthermore, how do these views differ when candidates give strong compared to weak support for Christian nationalism, and can voters distinguish these cues from conservative religious signals?

Understanding the Interaction between Christian Nationalist Signals and Policies
2022–23 Survey Lab Project

Christian nationalism (CN), a worldview which calls for a “Christian America,” has surged in popularity over the past decade among Republicans. However, questions remain about whether these beliefs operate more as an identity or a policy signal. Do CN supporters prefer a candidate who openly identifies as a CN candidate or a candidate who supports CN positions on policies? Furthermore, at what point does policy preference outweigh a common identity, and how do a candidate’s CN signals interact with them holding CN or non-CN policy positions?  I aim to disentangle Republican support for candidates who signal support for CN compared to supporting CN positions on policies of abortion, DACA citizenship, and legislating morality. Learning how CN signals interact with policy issues will help us better understand how CN impacts voters’ decisions and how Republican candidates may present themselves to gain electoral support.

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