The relationship between repression and political mobilization remains debated. This study examines police interventions during Catalonia's independence referendum on 1 October 2017, analyzing their impact on turnout through detailed aggregate data and a post-referendum survey.
Police Actions & Turnout Effects
The intervention had mixed consequences:
- Locally negative: Reduced voter turnout near intervention sites
- Regionally positive: Increased turnout in surrounding areas due to spillover effects
Implications for Political Science Understanding
Our findings reveal a counterintuitive dynamic: while police actions discouraged local voting, they paradoxically spurred participation elsewhere. This highlights the complex interplay between repression and political engagement.
