How Does Elite Messaging Influence Participation in Separatist Movements?

• In Event: Elite-Citizen Relations

Abstract

Does information change individuals willingness to engage in risky behavior? Specifically, does the source of information play a role in an individual's decision to engage in risky behavior? We answer these questions by looking at how co-ethnic elite information signals influence individuals' decision to support and join separatist groups in south eastern Nigeria. Focusing on one such group - Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), we design and carry out an experiment to understand what type of information and what sources of information influence an individual's decision to support and join this group. We hypothesize that an individual will support the separatist group if they approve of their activities, and they join the group if they are willing to engage in the group's activities. We argue that information on ethnic inequality in the distribution of public goods creates feelings of relative deprivation in the individual receiving such information. This feeling may not necessarily lead the individual receiving such information to engage in risky behavior. However, receiving such information from a co-ethnic elite may lead to feelings of political despair which in turn spurs the individual to support and join the separatist movement. We define political despair as a state where an individual feels low self efficacy and high levels of hopelessness.

Authors

• Ada Johnson-Kanu, University of Kentucky

• Jiyoung Kim, University of California, Los Angeles