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Strategic Interdependence in Political Movements and Countermovements

Author

Listed:
  • Hager, Anselm

    (Humboldt-Universit¨at zu Berlin)

  • Hensel, Lukas

    (University of Oxford)

  • Hermle, Johannes

    (University of California, Berkeley and IZA)

  • Roth, Christopher

    (University of Warwick)

Abstract
Collective action is the result of the efforts of groups consisting of many individuals. This gives rise to strategic interactions: the decision of an individual to participate in collective action may depend on the efforts of both like-minded and opposing activists. This paper causally studies such strategic interactions in the context of left- and right-wing protests in Germany. In an experiment, we investigated whether randomly varied information on turnout of both like-minded and opposing movements impacts activists’ willingness to protest. In response to information about high turnout of their own group, left-wing activists increased their willingness to protest, consistent with theories of conditional cooperation. In contrast, right-wing activists decreased their willingness to protest, consistent with instrumental accounts and free-riding motives. For both groups, there was no significant reaction to information about turnout of the opposing movement. The results highlight substantial heterogeneity in strategic interactions and motives across the political spectrum

Suggested Citation

  • Hager, Anselm & Hensel, Lukas & Hermle, Johannes & Roth, Christopher, 2020. "Strategic Interdependence in Political Movements and Countermovements," CAGE Online Working Paper Series 491, Competitive Advantage in the Global Economy (CAGE).
    • Handle: RePEc:cge:wacage:491
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    File URL: https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/economics/research/centres/cage/manage/publications/wp491.2020.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    Cited by:

    1. González, Felipe, 2020. "Collective action in networks: Evidence from the Chilean student movement," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 188(C).
    2. Anselm Hager & Lukas Hensel & Johannes Hermle & Christopher Roth, 2023. "Political Activists as Free Riders: Evidence from a Natural Field Experiment," The Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 133(653), pages 2068-2084.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Political rallies; field experiment; strategic behavior; beliefs JEL Classification:;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D74 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Conflict; Conflict Resolution; Alliances; Revolutions
    • D80 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - General
    • P00 - Political Economy and Comparative Economic Systems - - General - - - General

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