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Why voters who value democracy participate in democratic backsliding

Author

Listed:
  • Alia Braley

    (University of California, Berkeley)

  • Gabriel S. Lenz

    (University of California, Berkeley)

  • Dhaval Adjodah

    (Massachusetts Institute of Technology)

  • Hossein Rahnama

    (Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Massachusetts Institute of Technology)

  • Alex Pentland

    (Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Massachusetts Institute of Technology)

Abstract

Around the world, citizens are voting away the democracies they claim to cherish. Here we present evidence that this behaviour is driven in part by the belief that their opponents will undermine democracy first. In an observational study (N = 1,973), we find that US partisans are willing to subvert democratic norms to the extent that they believe opposing partisans are willing to do the same. In experimental studies (N = 2,543, N = 1,848), we revealed to partisans that their opponents are more committed to democratic norms than they think. As a result, the partisans became more committed to upholding democratic norms themselves and less willing to vote for candidates who break these norms. These findings suggest that aspiring autocrats may instigate democratic backsliding by accusing their opponents of subverting democracy and that we can foster democratic stability by informing partisans about the other side’s commitment to democracy.

Suggested Citation

  • Alia Braley & Gabriel S. Lenz & Dhaval Adjodah & Hossein Rahnama & Alex Pentland, 2023. "Why voters who value democracy participate in democratic backsliding," Nature Human Behaviour, Nature, vol. 7(8), pages 1282-1293, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nathum:v:7:y:2023:i:8:d:10.1038_s41562-023-01594-w
    DOI: 10.1038/s41562-023-01594-w
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    Cited by:

    1. Gilad, Sharon & Sulitzeanu-Kenan, Raanan & Levi-Faur, David, 2024. "Partisan Alignment and the Propensity to Choose a Job in a Government Ministry," SocArXiv ufzcj, Center for Open Science.
    2. Ximeng Fang & Sven Heuser & Lasse S. Stötzer, 2023. "How In-Person Conversations Shape Political Polarization: Quasi-Experimental Evidence from a Nationwide Initiative," ECONtribute Discussion Papers Series 270, University of Bonn and University of Cologne, Germany.

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