Warriors, Wells, and Wealth: Military Institutions and Technology Adoption

• In Event: Collective Behavior and Social Movements Section Roundtables
  In Refereed Roundtable (60 minute): Table 1: Considering History in the Study of Movements

Abstract

Why do some societies adopt cooperative technologies while others facing similar environments do not? We study this question through the diffusion of qanat irrigation systems in historical Xinjiang. Focusing on the Turpan--Hami corridor—two arid regions with comparable geography but sharply different adoption trajectories, we combine a grid-level panel with staggered DiD and an IV strategy based on simulated Qing military marching routes.
We show that military exposure substantially increased both the likelihood and scale of qanat adoption. Evidence points to three mechanisms. First, garrisons generated local water demand and spillovers. Second, sustained military mobilized collective action. Third, military deployment reduced the incidence of armed conflict, improving security for long-term, irreversible investment.
We then compare the roles of different institutions. Military exposure was more effective where mosques strengthened local social cohesion, while proximity to civil administrative centers did not amplify adoption. Finally, we examine the consequences of qanat adoption. Areas with earlier construction experienced persistent expansions in cultivated land and, over the long run, higher population density and economic development.
These findings show that in frontier regions with limited administrative capacity, military institutions served as a central coordinating mechanism shaping both technological adoption and long-run development.

Author

• Wentong Sun, Wuhan University