Maximalist Goals Increase State Repression: Evidence from the NAVCO 3.0 Dataset

Abstract

How do movement goals influence state repression? This study examines how protest movements with maximalist goals influence state repression, focusing on the role of perceived threats in shaping regime responses. Drawing on data from the NAVCO 3.0 dataset, the findings reveal that events with maximalist goals, such as demands for regime overthrow, are significantly more likely to elicit repressive responses than events with minimalist goals targeting specific policy reforms. I theorize that heightened repression is linked to the threat such goals pose to regime stability. The findings highlight the strategic calculations regimes make when managing dissent and contribute to the understanding of how threat perceptions and contextual factors interact to shape repression. This research offers valuable insights for activists, policymakers, and scholars seeking to understand and mitigate state repression.