Suppression by Mobilization: How Information Control Strategies Contain Political Criticism in Autocracies

Abstract

Autocrats selectively tolerate political criticism, which may erode regime support. The literature suggests that regimes contain criticism by encouraging more supportive voices, but the mechanisms remain unclear. We theorize two mechanisms: winning more supporters (persuasion) or mobilizing existing supporters to speak out (mobilization). These mechanisms can be created by censoring evidence that supports criticism and adopting propaganda to arouse nationalism or promise material gains. We conducted two survey experiments in China with a novel measurement of supporter mobilization: respondents’ written defenses against criticism. We find evidence of a mobilization mechanism but not persuasion. Censoring facts strongly encourages supportive comments. Ideological propaganda’s effects are moderate, whereas propaganda on material benefits has no effect.