Paying the Price for Patronage: Electoral Violence in Sri Lanka

Abstract

How are societies influenced by electoral violence? Electoral violence has become an endemic feature of many countries. Yet we know little about the implications of such violence and the effect it has on individuals and their relationship to politics. This paper analyses electoral violence at the village level in central Sri Lanka, to understand the local dynamics involved. Several conclusions are drawn about electoral violence, its victims, and influence on politics. For instance, it was found that violence directly influenced political participation, voter turnout and voters’ mobility. Violence also had profound effects on the villagers’ perceptions about politics, with fear and frustration lingering for years after the violence occurred.