Leiden University Student Repository

Longo, Cordelia (2025)

Uncanny valley: LGBTQIA+ American university students’ support for the pro-Palestine movement

Master thesis | Political Science (MSc)

This thesis explores the question: “Why are some LGBTQIA+ American university students pro-Palestine?” It uses theory on values-based and bottom-up public opinion on foreign policy from Rathbun et al. (2016) and Kertzer and Zeitzoff (2017), hypothesizing: 1) Those who prioritize decolonization will believe in Palestinian (as opposed to Jewish) indigeneity, and 2) Those with leftist views will hold pro-Palestine beliefs. A survey is conducted on 54 participants from universities across the U.S. This thesis uses the Pearson correlation coefficient, other quantitative data analysis, and thematic analysis. H1 and H2 are confirmed, and self-transcendence values are found in the sample. Some participants see their own queerness and transness as being connected to the movement, while others view their identity as completely separate from their support for the pro-Palestine cause. However, support for decolonization and leftist politics in the LGBTQIA+ American student community does not...Show moreThis thesis explores the question: “Why are some LGBTQIA+ American university students pro-Palestine?” It uses theory on values-based and bottom-up public opinion on foreign policy from Rathbun et al. (2016) and Kertzer and Zeitzoff (2017), hypothesizing: 1) Those who prioritize decolonization will believe in Palestinian (as opposed to Jewish) indigeneity, and 2) Those with leftist views will hold pro-Palestine beliefs. A survey is conducted on 54 participants from universities across the U.S. This thesis uses the Pearson correlation coefficient, other quantitative data analysis, and thematic analysis. H1 and H2 are confirmed, and self-transcendence values are found in the sample. Some participants see their own queerness and transness as being connected to the movement, while others view their identity as completely separate from their support for the pro-Palestine cause. However, support for decolonization and leftist politics in the LGBTQIA+ American student community does not completely explain why there were no protests or encampments for other similar conflicts that would have utilized the same values and foreign policy beliefs.Show less

LGBT, LGBTQ+, LGBTQIA+, queer, Palestine, pro-Palestine, public opinion

Author

Longo, Cordelia

Faculty

Faculty of Social & Behavioural Sciences

Specialisation

International Organisation

Supervisors

Michaels, J.H.

ECTS Credits

20

Language

en