What political violence does to citizens
Source: The Loop
Violence against politicians is a part of politics, but experimental studies find that its effect on citizens is muted. Rozemarijn van Dijk and Joep van Lit argue those null results are nevertheless meaningful: they should push scholars to study the conditions under which political violence results in (de)mobilisation
Violence against politicians is, regrettably, a part of political life. Politicians are harassed and intimidated on social media, campaign materials are vandalised, and many politicians work under constant security protection. Sometimes this climate of hostility escalates into direct physical attacks on politicians. At its extreme, political violence is fatal. Substantial evidence shows that such experiences change how politicians behave. Experiences of violence influence the ways politicians interact with constituents, what issues they are willing to speak about publicly, and whether they choose to remain in political life.
As such, political violence (which we define as violent acts by individuals, not international violence or terrorism) is directly threatening democracy. The perpetrators intend it not only to silence its immediate targets but also to send a signal to bystanders (‘normal citizens’): stay in line, stay quiet, stay out of politics. This is the demobilising effect of political violence, inducing fear and self-censorship. Conversely, if political violence provokes outrage rather than fear, we might expect it to have a mobilising effect.
Violence against politicians is a part of politics, but experimental studies find that its effect on citizens is muted. Rozemarijn van Dijk and Joep van Lit argue those null results are nevertheless meaningful: they should push scholars to study the conditions under which political violence results in (de)mobilisation
Violence against politicians is, regrettably, a part of political life. Politicians are harassed and intimidated on social media, campaign materials are vandalised, and many politicians work under constant security protection. Sometimes this climate of hostility escalates into direct physical attacks on politicians. At its extreme, political violence is fatal. Substantial evidence shows that such experiences change how politicians behave. Experiences of violence influence the ways politicians interact with constituents, what issues they are willing to speak about publicly, and whether they choose to remain in political life.
As such, political violence (which we define as violent acts by individuals, not international violence or terrorism) is directly threatening democracy. The perpetrators intend it not only to silence its immediate targets but also to send a signal to bystanders (‘normal citizens’): stay in line, stay quiet, stay out of politics. This is the demobilising effect of political violence, inducing fear and self-censorship. Conversely, if political violence provokes outrage rather than fear, we might expect it to have a mobilising effect.