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Cited by 138Electoral Systems and Political ParticipationPolitical Theory and DemocracyPolitical Conflict and Governance

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 59 of the 59 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.

Why voters who value democracy participate in democratic backsliding

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Braley, Alia, Lenz, Gabriel S., Adjodah, Dhaval, Rahnama, Hossein, Pentland, Alex·2023·Nature Human Behaviour
DOI 10.1038/s41562-023-01594-w

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Abstract

Abstract Around the world, citizens are voting away the democracies they claim to cherish. Why are they voting against their own values? In this article, we provide evidence that this behavior is driven in part by fear that their opponents might dismantle democracy first. In an observational study (N=1,973), we find that US partisans who most fear the other party’s willingness to subvert democracy are also those most willing to support subverting democracy themselves. In an experimental study (N=2,543), we use an intervention to reduce these often exaggerated fears. With these fears reduced, partisans become more committed to upholding democratic norms. They also become more willing to vote against candidates of their own party who break these norms. The findings suggest that we can foster democratic stability by strengthening trust in opposing partisans’ commitment to democracy.

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Research works printed but not linked: 1

  1. Broockman, D., Kalla, J. & Westwood, S. Does affective polarization undermine democratic norms or accountability? Maybe not. Amer. Jour. Pol. Sci. https://doi.org/10.1111/ajps.1271 (2022). · DOI

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Metadata

Authors
Braley, A., Lenz, G. S., Adjodah, D., Rahnama, H., & Pentland, A.
Affiliations
  • University of California, Berkeley (US)
  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology (US)
  • MIT Media Lab (US)
Corresponding author
Braley, Alia
ORCID
Venue
Nature Human Behaviour
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published
2023-05-22
Volume
7
Issue
8
Pages
1282-1293
ISSN
2397-3374 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1038/s41562-023-01594-w
OpenAlex
W4377225348
Cited by
138
References
57
Citations by year
2026: 29 · 2025: 47 · 2024: 45 · 2023: 12
FWCI
98.21
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Nature Human Behaviour (publishedVersion)
  • Research Square (acceptedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (submittedVersion)
  • OSF Preprints (OSF Preprints) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • University of California Berkeley (NA)
  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology (NA)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Political Science and International Relations › Electoral Systems and Political Participation
  • Social Sciences › Political Science and International Relations › Political Theory and Democracy
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Political Conflict and Governance
Keywords
democratic backsliding, democratic norms, partisanship, democratic stability, authoritarianism, voting behavior
MeSH terms
Democracy, Humans, Politics

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