A dangerous discrepancy

Testing the micro-dynamics of horizontal inequality on Palestinian support for armed resistance

Bibliographic Data

ID3916545
AuthorsSolveig Hillesund (0000-0002-9370-1417, Fafo Institute for Applied International Studies, Oslo, corresponding author)
Year2015
Volume52
Issue1
Pages76-90
Publication date2015-01-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Peace Research (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0022-3433 • E-ISSN: 1460-3578
PublisherSAGE Publications Inc (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1177/0022343314551080
OpenAlexW2316544369
LanguageEN
Citations received10
References cited44

This study aims to uncover how horizontal inequality affects support for violent and nonviolent resistance among Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza. National survey data are introduced to operationalize the mechanisms proposed in the horizontal inequality literature on the individual level. Results point to the operation of political and economic horizontal inequality mechanisms in the Palestinian case. Higher perceived status of civil and political rights is associated with a lower probability of supporting violent over nonviolent resistance. Individuals are also more likely to support violent over nonviolent resistance the larger the difference in household expenditure and consumer durable ownership between their own region and the closest Israeli subdistrict. Corresponding differences in educational attainment have no corresponding effect. The results demonstrate how economic and political horizontal inequality can increase the risk that an individual becomes part of the mobilizational potential of violent social movements. This can lead to participation in a wide range of supportive actions that increase the viability of such movements, ranging from material support to direct participation in violence. The level of public support for violent resistance in key constituencies could also influence public opinion sensitive actors like Hamas in their choice between violent and nonviolent resistance strategies

Demographic economics · Economic inequality · Economics · Educational attainment · Inequality · Operationalization · Poison control · Political science · Political violence · Politics · Public opinion · Resistance (ecology) · Social inequality · Human Factors and Ergonomics · Law · Political Conflict and Governance · Psychology · Religion, Society, and Development · Social Psychology · Turkey's Politics and Society

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