When Legislators Change Their Minds: Understanding Foreign Policy Waffling in the U.S. House of Representatives

Sinjae Kang, Heesu Lim, Sanghyun Park, Jaesuk Park, Institute of East and West Studies, Yonsei University, South Korea, Department of Political Science BK, Yonsei University, South Korea, Survey Research Center, Sungkyunkwan University, South Korea, Global Leaders College, Yonsei University, South Korea

American Politics Research

Published online on January 29, 2026

Abstract

American Politics Research, Volume 54, Issue 3, Page 366-381, May 2026.
This article examines why legislators reverse their positions on foreign policy bills they initially endorse. Using roll-call data from the U.S. House of Representatives (1990–2024), we identify systematic variations in waffling patterns across foreign ...