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Does Police Militarization Increase Repression?

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  • Martin Stavro
  • Ryan M. Welch

Abstract

Does police militarization influence government use of repression? While comparative work examines police militarization, violence, human rights abuses, and torture, it does not integrate militarized police within existing theories of repression. Connecting police militarization and repression, this article argues that police militarization increases the police’s perception of threat as well as their coercive capacity, thereby increasing their willingness to repress. As such, we hypothesize police militarization increases repression. To evaluate the theory, we conduct an international analysis using existing datasets covering 102 countries from 1994 to 2010. Employing several statistical models, the data supports the conclusion that police militarization increases the likelihood of government repression, specifically through extrajudicial killing and torture. Aside from highlighting a consequence of police militarization policy, the findings point to police militarization as an important omitted variable in cross-national models of repression and human rights.

Suggested Citation

  • Martin Stavro & Ryan M. Welch, 2024. "Does Police Militarization Increase Repression?," Journal of Conflict Resolution, Peace Science Society (International), vol. 68(5), pages 964-992, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:jocore:v:68:y:2024:i:5:p:964-992
    DOI: 10.1177/00220027231187301
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Travis Curtice, 2021. "How Repression Affects Public Perceptions of Police: Evidence from a Natural Experiment in Uganda," Journal of Conflict Resolution, Peace Science Society (International), vol. 65(10), pages 1680-1708, November.
    2. Robert A. Blair & Michael Weintraub, 2023. "Little evidence that military policing reduces crime or improves human security," Nature Human Behaviour, Nature, vol. 7(6), pages 861-873, June.
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