Maintaining nonviolent selfdiscipline in hostile protest environments: evidence from the 2019 Baghdad protests

Abstract

ABSTRACT Successful civil resistance requires an enduring commitment to nonviolent selfdiscipline, often in response to repressive and provocative government tactics. We examine dedication to nonviolent collective action using the case of recent protests in Baghdad, Iraq. Based on a sample of 300 activists from 2019 anti-government protests across different locations in Baghdad, we find that those who have been exposed to violence by government forces are more willing to justify violent responses. However, more experienced protesters, reflected in present and past protest activity, display greater commitment to nonviolent activism and less willingness to reciprocate violence despite government provocations. We attribute this to possible socialization effects within activist communities which help transcend identity cleavages and associational divisions within the movement, reinforcing protest commitment and dedication to nonviolence. We conclude by discussing the implications of our findings for civil resistance as an alternative to violence in conflict-prone environments.