Audiences of Repression

About the Book

Conventional academic wisdom holds that repression is more effective in preventing dissent when it is invisible, and focuses on understanding how it affects the groups directly targeted. However, authoritarian governments often publicize their efforts to prevent dissent, even when repression fails to deter opposition. Expanding the understanding of the consequences of repression, this book develops and tests a theory of how legal repression aids autocracies. I argue that autocrats publicize legal repression in order to shape the public’s attitudes and behaviors and construct illegality in the service of political control. The audiences of repression, the argument suggests, are broader than conventionally assumed and involve not only the victims of repression but also public opinion at large.

Drawing on twelve years of unprecedented data from Russia (2012–2024) the book provides comprehensive causal evidence of how publicized legal repression shapes society. The rich range of data the book relies on includes novel, detailed information on protest and protest permits, daily news stories, and original surveys of thousands of Russians with embedded survey experiments. By showcasing how autocrats use legal provisions to shape citizens’ views and behaviors, The Audiences of Repression reshapes our understanding of authoritarian control strategies and makes a vital contribution to the study of authoritarian politics and political violence.