Violence begets violence: Why states should not lethally repress popular protest

State repression committed upon political opposition is one of the most commonly reoccurring events in the age of the nation state. A popular question has been whether repression increases or decreases mobilisation during periods of social conflict. In this study, I demonstrate that when repression is aimed at large social movements, regardless of movement strategy and characteristics, repression will, on average, increase dissident mobilisation. These effects are even greater when the movement seeks regime change and is highly threatening. Statistical analysis gives support to my argument which concurrently raises important policy-oriented questions regarding civil resistance and governmental human rights practices.