Without strong international enforcement mechanisms, states face few tangible constraints against violating international humanitarian law (IHL). However, public opinion has been considered a potential check on such behavior. My research examines how these violations shape public perceptions of war, particularly the relationship between a war’s legitimacy and its conduct. While jus ad bellum (the justification for war) and jus in bello (the conduct in war) are traditionally viewed in a silo, I investigate how breaches of IHL influence the perceived legitimacy of military conflicts. Using empirical analysis, I examine not only how public attitudes respond to such violations but also the underlying causal mechanisms through which they shape support for continued military engagement and escalation.
