Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0
Author-Name: Colin Jennings
Author-Name-First: Colin
Author-Name-Last: Jennings
Author-Email: colin.jennings@strath.ac.uk
Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Economics, University of Strathclyde
Title: Rationalising ‘'Irrational'' Support for Political Violence
Abstract: This paper provides a rationale for group support for political violence when violence does not provide a material beneÂ…fit. A theory of fairness is adopted to demonstrate that although group violence may not be the equilibrium of a material game it may be a fairness equilibrium in a game containing psychological payoffs. For this to happen the material stakes must be perceived as low and psychological payoffs are expressive. Although the material stakes are actually high, members of each group may choose expressively to support the use of violence because the probability of being decisive is low. The paper also considers the possibility of peace emerging as a fairness equilibrium. This can only happen if each group perceives the other as making some sacrfiÂ…ce in choosing peace.
Length: 25 pages
Creation-Date: 2012-08
Revision-Date: 
Publication-Status: Published
File-URL: http://www.strath.ac.uk/media/1newwebsite/departmentsubject/economics/research/researchdiscussionpapers/2012/12-12-Final.pdf
File-Format: Application/pdf
Number: 1212
Classification-JEL: D03; D72; D74
Keywords: confl‡ict; emotions; reciprocity; expressive
Handle: RePEc:str:wpaper:1212