The spread of nonviolent resistance across countries remains a puzzle, despite its prevalence in Eastern Europe color revolutions and Middle East/North Africa protests.
This study addresses how individuals learn about nonviolent campaigns by testing two distinct learning mechanisms through an experimental survey.
Experimental Design & Focus on Information Types
We examined the impact of information regarding either the principles of nonviolent campaigns or their historical success rates.
Key Findings: Both Boost Support
Our results show that exposure to both types—principles and prospected outcomes—increases individuals' evaluation and support for nonviolent resistance tactics.
Different Effects Despite Shared Goal
The findings reveal distinct effects of these two learning mechanisms, suggesting different underlying cognitive processes.
