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

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  • Cao, Yiming

    (Boston University)

  • Enke, Benjamin

    (Harvard University)

  • Falk, Armin

    (University of Bonn)

  • Giuliano, Paola

    (University of California, Los Angeles)

  • Nunn, Nathan

    (Harvard University)

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

  • Cao, Yiming & Enke, Benjamin & Falk, Armin & Giuliano, Paola & Nunn, Nathan, 2021. "Herding, Warfare, and a Culture of Honor: Global Evidence," IZA Discussion Papers 14738, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp14738
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    2. 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.
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    5. Sestito, Matteo, 2025. "Identity conflict, ethnocentrism and social cohesion," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 174(C).
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    7. Ms. Paola Giuliano & Mr. Antonio Spilimbergo, 2024. "Aggregate Shocks and the Formation of Preferences and Beliefs," IMF Working Papers 2024/195, International Monetary Fund.
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    10. Leopoldo Fergusson & Jos√©-Alberto Guerra & James A. Robinson, 2024. "Anti-social norms," Documentos CEDE 21159, Universidad de los Andes, Facultad de Economía, CEDE.
    11. 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.
    12. Ulugbek Aminjonov & Olivier Bargain & Maira Colacce & Luca Tiberti, 2022. "Culture, Intra-household Distribution and Individual Poverty," Working Papers - Economics wp2022_21.rdf, Universita' degli Studi di Firenze, Dipartimento di Scienze per l'Economia e l'Impresa.
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    14. Leopoldo Fergusson & José-Alberto Guerra & James A. Robinson, 2024. "Anti-social norms," NBER Working Papers 32717, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    15. 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..
    16. Matteo Sestito, 2023. "Identity conflict, ethnocentrism and social cohesion," Post-Print halshs-03953975, HAL.
    17. Voigt, Stefan, 2022. "Determinant of Social Norms," ILE Working Paper Series 58, University of Hamburg, Institute of Law and Economics.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    culture of honor; conflict; punishment; revenge;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

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

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