UC Davis

This dissertation consists of three papers analyzing the dynamics of protest and repression in the digital age. It focuses on the interplay between government strategies such as internet shutdowns and traditional forms of physical repression, assessing their effectiveness and motivations across various contexts such as protests and elections. The first paper examines the strategic use of internet shutdowns by the Indian government to suppress dissent, particularly in regions with strong opposition presence. This study indicates that such digital repression tactics are not merely responses to violence, but also proactive measures to maintain political control. The second paper investigates the diffusion of protests, assessing the relative impact of geographic and social connections in the spread of movements. By combining an observational analysis of the India Farmers' Protest with an online experiment that isolates individual responsiveness to protest information, this study finds that although social networks facilitate protest diffusion, geographic proximity remains a significant factor. The third paper broadens the scope to global patterns of electoral violence, employing a close elections regression discontinuity design to explore the link between local incumbency and the perpetration of election-related violence. Collectively, this dissertation deepens our understanding of state control and repression tactics across diverse political landscapes and geographic regions, providing crucial insights into the evolving dynamics of technology, political power, and repression in our increasingly digital world, while also highlighting enduring patterns of state behavior and resistance strategies.