The two papers described below are among several being presented by UC Davis faculty and students at the annual meeting of the American Political Science Association at the Sheraton Boston and the Boston Marriott Copley Place today through Sunday, Sept. 6. Paper: "Race, Gender and War" Co-authors: Miroslav Nincic, UC Davis professor and chair of the political science department, and Donna Nincic, a lecturer in the department. Date and time: Thursday, Sept. 3. 10:45 a.m. Women are less likely to support the use of force abroad than are men, and a parallel gap separates black and white Americans, according to two political scientists at UC Davis. The researchers, Miroslav and Donna Nincic, found men's approval of war was higher than women's by an average of 12 percentage points, and men consistently preferred more escalatory policy options than women. Similarly, blacks were less inclined than whites to approve of the use of force abroad, or the escalation of involvement after it occurs. These findings are based on a study of responses to National Election Studies questions posed regarding Korea in 1952; Vietnam in 1966 and 1972; and two stages of the Gulf War. The study also found the gap between whites and blacks over the use of military force has grown markedly since the Korean War. Moreover, the racial and gender gaps offer better predictions of attitudes toward war than does level of education, age or political party affiliation. The husband and wife suggest that women's and blacks' attitudes toward war are rooted in traits particular to each group, as well as in the higher level of political alienation they appear to share.