Voter Accountability Shifts Post-War Violence: Why Do They Still Support the Perpetrators?

Why This Matters

This study examines why civilians who suffer violent political violence after war often remain loyal to the perpetrators. The paper argues that accountability mechanisms in post-conflict societies are often weak or ineffective, leading citizens to blame victims rather than hold perpetrators accountable.

New Findings

Drawing on survey experiments and qualitative insights from data collected across multiple conflict zones, we find three key findings:

• Voters tend to shift their support toward the winning side after violence against civilians is witnessed.
• They often attribute attacks to partisan actors rather than government forces or state institutions.
• This victim-blaming behavior significantly weakens post-war peace agreements.

How We Did It

Researchers designed survey experiments in regions with ongoing transitional justice issues, presenting hypothetical scenarios of civilian victimization during political competition periods.