Does Exposure to Violence Increase or Decrease Support for Political Violence?

Abstract

This paper argues that the relationship between exposure to violence and support for political violence is not linear. These variables rather have a U-curved relationship. Exposure to violence, until a certain threshold, increases empathy. Empathy, in turn, decreases support for political violence. Once that threshold is passed, however, one can argue that exposure to violence should induce support for political violence. The paper uses the Afrobarometer (2008) data. It focuses on Liberia which has not been explored by scholars working on attitudes towards political violence before. The findings provide support for the hypothesis.