Post-conflict Network Dynamics

• In Event: The Legacies of War on Political Identities and Behavior

Abstract

Previous research documents that conflict and wartime violence can increase political engagement and activate anti-perpetrator political networks. However, the specific mechanisms driving this phenomenon have not been thoroughly examined. This study addresses this gap by investigating the impact of the Nazi occupation of Norway. Combining individual-level data on arrests with detailed municipality-level panel data on candidates, turnout, and election outcomes, we analyze the effects of Nazi repression on two distinct social groups: women and farmers. Preliminary findings suggest that targeted Nazi repression had different effects on these groups. For women, repression empowered them, leading to an increased likelihood of women appearing on party lists after World War II. Conversely, repression against farmers, who had established political networks and a strong political movement before the war, broadened the support for their party. This paper sheds light on the mechanisms underlying post-conflict mobilization, indicating that repression can create new networks and strengthen existing ones.

Authors

• Sergi Martinez, European University Institute

• Dylan Potts, LSE