Category: Uncategorized

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Propaganda as Provocation

PI: Eddy S. F. Yeung, Ph.D. Candidate Emory University

Grant Amount and Grant Fund: $2,500, Second Century Fund

Project Abstract: Citizens in Western societies often take democracy for granted, but over half of the world population is still living in autocracies. Why are autocracies so persistent? What is the role of propaganda in sustaining authoritarian rule? A rich literature on authoritarian politics suggests that two functions of autocratic propaganda exist: first, persuading citizens of the regime’s merits; second, signaling to citizens the regime’s strength. I argue that there exists a third function of propaganda that also benefits authoritarian survival and yet through a different mechanism: provoking the opposition. By producing provocative propaganda to taunt and mock the opposition, the autocrat can evoke regime opponents’ anger and radicalize them in mass movements. When these movements become increasingly radical, they start to lose legitimacy and public support. In turn, the public is less willing to join forces with the opposition and, consequently, the movements become less likely to succeed. Thus, provocative propaganda benefits the autocrat. To test my theory, I will conduct a survey experiment in Hong Kong, where provocative propaganda was prevalent during the Anti-Extradition Law Amendment Bill movement. My project has important implications for top-down polarization as a regime survival strategy, and will advance our understanding of strategic provocation in domestic politics.

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Normalization: Explaining Public Support for Government Censorship in Authoritarian Regimes

PI: Tony Zirui Yang, Ph.D. Candidate, Washington University in St. Louis

Grant Amount and Grant Fund: $2,500, James Bryce Fund for Political Science

Project Abstract: Traditional understandings of government censorship in authoritarian regimes regard it as a tool of the government to suppress political opposition. In light of such an understanding, scholars have found that authoritarian governments extensively censor online criticism of the regime, and ordinary citizens try to circumvent and resist government censorship. Yet, contrary to the conventional view, surveys consistently find that citizens in authoritarian regimes express high levels of support for government censorship. Why are citizens in authoritarian regimes supportive of government censorship? To explain this puzzle, I argue that citizens support government censorship because they no longer view censorship as suppression of political opposition. Rather, they view censorship as a normal government policy. I call such changes in perception “normalization of censorship.” Specifically, I explore two ways the normalization of censorship happens. First, the government expands the targets of censorship beyond criticism of the regime to other seemingly harmless non-political content such as entertainment and advertisement. As a result, citizens are more likely to believe that censorship is a normal policy that regulates both political and non-political content. Second, the government encourages citizens to participate in censorship by flagging content they do not like. Such participation diminishes the government’s responsibility for censorship. Thus, citizens are less likely to believe that censorship is a tool for political repression. I use various sources of data from China to support my arguments. Taken together, my research highlights how the normalization of censorship contributes to authoritarian governments’ control of society while maintaining popular support.

 

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Loving Us Through Lifting Others: Black Women, Heavy Lifting, and Leadership

PI: Jatia Wrighten, Assistant Professor, Virginia Commonwealth University

Grant Amount and Grant Fund: $1,406, Edward Artinian Fund for Publishing

Project Abstract: The goal of this book is to examine the legislative behavior of Black women through a novel intersectional framework, the heavy lifter theory. The heavy lifter theory explains as to why and how Black women differ from both White women and Black men and offers insight to better understand Black women’s political behavior. Black women are continually increasing their representation in U.S. legislative institutions, specifically state legislatures. This research presents a historical context by which to understand and examine the gendered nature of the ascription process of Black women. Specifically, their experience as a marginalized group burdened them with the duty of the heavy lifter. Although being the heavy lifter is a burden, this focus on Black women’s ability to thrive under constant discrimination in the form of racism and sexism should give scholars pause. In looking at Black women legislators’ ability to gain leadership, the heavy lifter identity can potentially be a vehicle through which these Black women legislators can find a sense of purpose and psychological and social strength to forge a path that might not have been expected for them.