Do Sports Games Distract People?: Evidence from the Launch of the KBO in South Korea

• In Event: New Theories of Conflict Processes

Brief Overview

We examine the 1982 KBO launch. Contrary to distraction goals, games increased protests, especially in home regions. Sports promoted mobilization by lowering collective action costs and fueling regional cleavages, backfiring against the regime.

Authors

• Hyomin Lee, University of Michigan

• Gaeun Jung, University of Texas at Austin