Rebellion and Repression and the Vietnam War

Abstract

Aspects of the domestic social costs of the Vietnam war are studied by relating differences in attitude about the war to tolerance for rebellion and support for repres sions. Attitudes about the war define three social types: the disaffected doves strongly oppose the war; the harassed hawks are strongly committed to it; and the silent majority is in the middle. The doves are more concerned about domestic prob lems, take a more liberal position on civil rights and social welfare, and have greater tolerance for rebellion. Surpris ingly, the silent majority is almost as tolerant as the doves. Both are considerably more tolerant than the hawks. Four test factors also affect tolerance for rebellion. These are: attitudes favorable to civil rights, membership in an ethnic minority, high socio-economic status, and being less than forty years of age. These test factors also specify the original rela tionship between attitude about the war and tolerance. The overall effect on tolerance of being a dove is increased when ever a category of a test factor predisposes toward tolerance. Whenever a category predisposes toward repression, the doves are less tolerant and are similar to the silent majority.