Education, Indoctrination, and Mass Mobilization in Autocracies

Bibliographic Data

ID12419986
AuthorsPrince Selorm Kodzo Tetteh (corresponding author), Prince Selorm Tetteh (0000-0002-5180-8013, University of Alabama), Amanda B Edgell (0000-0002-3029-691X, University of Alabama)
Year2026
Publication date2026-02-10
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenuePolitical Research Quarterly (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1065-9129 • E-ISSN: 1938-274X
PublisherSAGE Publishing (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/10659129261422734
OpenAlexW7128478095
LanguageEN
References cited68

This article examines how regime efforts at educational indoctrination affect mass mobilization in autocracies. The literature tends to emphasize education’s democratizing potential. However, mass schooling in autocracies also facilitates pro-government propaganda, which may undermine the democratic character of mass mobilization in contexts where the regime uses education for indoctrination. This article builds on previous experimental findings to evaluate the correlation between regime indoctrination efforts through schooling and mass mobilization using expert assessments and observational data. Analyzing autocratic spells from 1950 to 2019, we find that educational indoctrination correlates with reduced mass mobilization. Specifically, autocracies investing in indoctrination show weaker pro-democracy movements and are less likely to experience anti-system uprisings. Conversely, educational indoctrination correlates with mobilization for autocracy, indicating it helps solidify authoritarian regimes against democratic pressures and promotes regime-compatible demonstrations

Authoritarianism · Autocracy · Democracy · Indoctrination · Mass mobilization · Mobilization · Asian Studies and History · Political Conflict and Governance · Religious Education and Schools

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