Scholars long debated whether autocratic repression stems from the political environment or protest characteristics. This study shows their interaction matters.

Why Dictators React Differently to Protest Issues

Personal legitimacy, tied directly to a leader's identity, makes them more sensitive to challenges than institutional sources do.

How We Got There

Using text classification on newspaper reports from 2003-2015 covering mass protests in autocracies,

we analyzed how leaders' claimed bases for rule influence their response.

What We Found※ Personal legitimacy triggers disproportionate repression when protesters target it directly.

Institutional or party-based claims lead to less reactive policies against dissent.

Implications ※ This nuanced understanding helps explain regime resilience and informs comparative political analysis.