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Subjective Well‐Being and Peaceful Uprisings
Author(s) -
Witte Caroline T.,
Burger Martijn J.,
Ianchovichina Elena
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
kyklos
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.766
H-Index - 58
eISSN - 1467-6435
pISSN - 0023-5962
DOI - 10.1111/kykl.12219
Subject(s) - life satisfaction , instrumental variable , psychology , politics , subjective well being , panel data , social psychology , variables , peaceful coexistence , well being , demographic economics , political science , econometrics , economics , statistics , mathematics , happiness , law , psychotherapist
SUMMARY This study analyzes whether subjective well‐being measures can explain variation in peaceful uprisings, in addition to the objective measures typically used in analyses of this type of events. Using data on uprisings and subjective well‐being for 119 countries from 2007 to 2014 – a period during which nonviolent conflict became increasingly prevalent – we estimate panel data regressions, including instrumental variable models. The study finds evidence of a positive effect of life dissatisfaction on the incidence of peaceful uprising, but not its violent counterpart. This effect does not depend on the type of political regime, nor the stage of development, and, to a large extent, it reflects changes in perceived satisfaction with living standards and the ability to have a purposeful and meaningful life.