Unraveling the Ties Between Civic Institutions and Attitudes Toward Political Violence

Abstract

Does a vibrant civil society lead to a more peaceful society? The notion that inclusive civic institutions can facilitate peaceful conflict resolution has become a cornerstone of economic development efforts, but little rigorous work tests this proposition. One obstacle to confirming this popular notion is the endogeneity of these institutions. It is difficult to tell whether civic institutions influence behavior or whether individuals who join civic institutions are a priori less likely to believe in using violence to achieve political goals. Cross-national quantitative analysis systematically examines this relationship, finding that many common demographic factors affect individuals’ participation in civic associations, but that membership in such associations plays little or no role in determining individual attitudes toward political violence. These results bear directly on debates in the scholarly and policy world about how best to create the conditions for a peaceful democratic society.