State Repression and the Domestic Democratic Peace

Does democracy decrease state repression in line with the expectations of governments, international organizations, NGOs, social movements, academics and ordinary citizens around the world? Most believe that a 'domestic democratic peace' exists, rivalling that found in the realm of interstate conflict. Investigating 137 countries from 1976 to 1996, this book seeks to shed light on this question. Specifically, three results emerge. First, while different aspects of democracy decrease repressive behaviour, not all do so to the same degree. Human rights violations are especially responsive to electoral participation and competition. Second, while different types of repression are reduced, not all are limited at comparable levels. Personal integrity violations are decreased more than civil liberties restrictions. Third, the domestic democratic peace is not bulletproof; the negative influence of democracy on repression can be overwhelmed by political conflict. This research alters our conception of repression, its analysis and its resolution.

Reviews of the hardback: 'There is probably no political scientist better placed than Davenport to take on this examination given his extensive contributions on the field of conflict studies.' Political Studies Review, '… this book marks a major empirical and theoretical advance in the comparative understanding of the patterns of state repression.' Social Movement Studies

Christian Davenport is a Professor of Peace Studies and Political Science at the University of Notre Dame as well as Director of the Radical Information Project (RIP). Primary research interests include political conflict (such as human rights violations, genocide/politicide, torture, political surveillance/covert repressive action, civil war and social movements), measurement, and racism. Professor Davenport is the author of numerous articles appearing in the American Political Science Review, the American Journal of Political Science, the Journal of Politics, the Journal of Conflict Resolution, Political Research Quarterly, Comparative Political Studies, and the Monthly Review (among others). He is the recipient of numerous grants (such as six from the National Science Foundation) and awards (such as the Russell Sage Foundation Visiting Scholar Award and the Residential Fellowship at the Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences). Professor Davenport is the author of two books: State Repression and the Domestic Democratic Peace and Media Bias and State Repression: The Black Panther Party, both published with Cambridge University Press. He is also the editor of two books: Repression and Mobilization: What Do We Know and Where Do We Go From Here? (University of Minnesota Press, 2004), and Paths to State Repression: Human Rights Violations and Contentious Politics (Rowman and Littlefield, 2000).