Authoritarian regimes respond to student movements through repression, often erasing these events from public memory. This study investigates how such failed mobilizations impact long-term political trust using a survey of college graduates spanning over 25 years post-movement. The methodology employs fuzzy regression discontinuity analysis, comparing individuals who began college before major protests versus those enrolled afterward.
Key Findings: Individuals exposed to suppressed student movements during college are significantly less trusting of the central government than subsequent generations. This effect persists even when the movement remains a taboo topic in public discourse.
Real-World Implications: The experience of state repression against mass mobilization profoundly shapes intergenerational political attitudes, potentially contributing to long-term democratic backsliding or institutional fatigue.
