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Clerics and Scriptures: Experimentally Disentangling the Influence of Religious Authority in Afghanistan

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  • Condra, Luke N.
  • Isaqzadeh, Mohammad
  • Linardi, Sera

Abstract

This article unpacks the psychological influence of a Muslim cleric’s power to mobilize for collective action in an experiment in Afghanistan. The same cleric requests contributions for a hospital from day laborers when dressed as a civilian and as a cleric. In Civilian condition, 50 per cent contributed and 17 per cent made large contributions; in Cleric condition, 83 per cent contributed but average giving did not increase as most gave the smallest possible amount. Inclusion of a recitation of Qur’anic verses in the Cleric condition maintains the 82 per cent contribution rate while increasing large contributions to 30 per cent, doubling average contributions. Formal education and subjective perception of poverty appear to drive the opposing effects of cleric and scripture. These results suggest that the power to activate spiritual channels lies in the scripture, not with the human wielding religious authority, who instead appears to induce minimal compliance with Islamic norms of charitable giving.

Suggested Citation

  • Condra, Luke N. & Isaqzadeh, Mohammad & Linardi, Sera, 2019. "Clerics and Scriptures: Experimentally Disentangling the Influence of Religious Authority in Afghanistan," British Journal of Political Science, Cambridge University Press, vol. 49(2), pages 401-419, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:cup:bjposi:v:49:y:2019:i:02:p:401-419_00
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    Cited by:

    1. Henning, Karla & Vollan, Björn & Balafoutas, Loukas, 2022. "Religious worship and discrimination," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 197(C), pages 91-102.
    2. Adena, Maja & Hakimov, Rustamdjan & Huck, Steffen, 2020. "Charitable giving by the poor: A field experiment in Kyrgyzstan," Discussion Papers, Research Unit: Economics of Change SP II 2019-305r, WZB Berlin Social Science Center, revised 2020.
    3. Grossman, Allison N. & Nomikos, William George & Siddiqui, Niloufer, 2021. "Can Appeals For Peace Promote Tolerance and Mitigate Support for Extremism? Evidence from an Experiment with Adolescents in Burkina Faso," OSF Preprints 49na5, Center for Open Science.
    4. Adel A. Al-Wugayan, 2023. "Celebrity appeal effectiveness in donating to the cause: Popular Culture vs. Religious Celebrities," International Review on Public and Nonprofit Marketing, Springer;International Association of Public and Non-Profit Marketing, vol. 20(2), pages 369-391, June.

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