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Herding, Warfare, and A Culture of Honor: Global Evidence

Author

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  • Giuliano, Paola
  • Cao, Yiming
  • Enke, Benjamin
  • Falk, Armin
  • Nunn, Nathan

Abstract

According to the widely known ‘culture of honor’ hypothesis from social psychology, traditional herding practices are believed to have generated a value system that is conducive to revenge-taking and violence. We test this idea at a global scale using a combination of ethnographic records, historical folklore information, global data on contemporary conflict events, and large-scale surveys. The data show systematic links between traditional herding practices and a culture of honor. First, the culture of pre-industrial societies that relied on animal herding emphasizes violence, punishment, and revenge-taking. Second, contemporary ethnolinguistic groups that historically subsisted more strongly on herding have more frequent and severe conflict today. Third, the contemporary descendants of herders report being more willing to take revenge and punish unfair behavior in the globally representative Global Preferences Survey. In all, the evidence supports the idea that this form of economic subsistence generated a functional psychology that has persisted until today and plays a role in shaping conflict across the globe.

Suggested Citation

  • Giuliano, Paola & Cao, Yiming & Enke, Benjamin & Falk, Armin & Nunn, Nathan, 2021. "Herding, Warfare, and A Culture of Honor: Global Evidence," CEPR Discussion Papers 16569, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    • Handle: RePEc:cpr:ceprdp:16569
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    3. Hufschmidt, Patrick & Ume, Chukwuma Otum, 2023. "Conflicts and political intervention: Evidence from the anti-open grazing laws in Nigeria," Ruhr Economic Papers 1009, RWI - Leibniz-Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung, Ruhr-University Bochum, TU Dortmund University, University of Duisburg-Essen.
    4. Aditi Singh & Sarah Vincent, 2024. "Male Sterilization and Persistence of Violence: Evidence from Emergency in India," Working Papers halshs-04454278, HAL.
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    7. Matteo Sestito, 2023. "Identity conflict, ethnocentrism and social cohesion," AMSE Working Papers 2304, Aix-Marseille School of Economics, France.
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    11. Ulugbek Aminjonov & Maira Colacce & Olivier Bargain & Luca Tiberti, 2024. "Culture, Intrahousehold Distribution, and Individual Poverty," Economic Development and Cultural Change, University of Chicago Press, vol. 73(1), pages 127-165.
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    13. César Huaroto & Francisco Gallego, 2023. "The Legacy of the Spanish Conquista in the Andes: Mining Mita, Persistent Social Unrest, and Cultural Divergence," Documentos de Trabajo 568, Instituto de Economia. Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile..
    14. Ms. Paola Giuliano & Mr. Antonio Spilimbergo, 2024. "Aggregate Shocks and the Formation of Preferences and Beliefs," IMF Working Papers 2024/195, International Monetary Fund.
    15. Voigt, Stefan, 2022. "Determinant of Social Norms," ILE Working Paper Series 58, University of Hamburg, Institute of Law and Economics.
    16. Remi Jedwab & Federico Haslop & Roman Zarate & Carlos Rodriguez-Castelan, 2023. "The Effects of Climate Change in the Poorest Countries: Evidence from the Permanent Shrinking of Lake Chad," Working Papers 2023-06, The George Washington University, Institute for International Economic Policy.
    17. Kai Gehring & Paul Schaudt, 2023. "Insuring Peace: Index-Based Livestock Insurance, Droughts, and Conflict," CESifo Working Paper Series 10423, CESifo.
    18. Obolensky, Marguerite & Tabellini, Marco & Taylor, Charles A., 2024. "Homeward Bound: How Migrants Seek Out Familiar Climates," IZA Discussion Papers 16710, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    19. Eoin F. McGuirk & Nathan Nunn, 2020. "Transhumant Pastoralism, Climate Change and Conflict in Africa," ERSA Working Paper Series, Economic Research Southern Africa, vol. 0.
    20. Schläpfer, Alain, 2024. "Cross-cultural differences in retaliation: Evidence from the soccer field," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 223(C), pages 216-233.

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    JEL classification:

    • N0 - Economic History - - General
    • Z1 - Other Special Topics - - Cultural Economics

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