Abstract:

We examine the importance of norms of revenge and punishment in perpetuating armed conflicts. Our analysis leverages the ‘culture of honor’ hypothesis from social psychology, which posits that traditional herding practices generate moral systems conducive to revenge-taking. We find that the descendants of herders (i) experience more frequent civil and non-civil conflicts; (ii) are more likely to be involved in conflicts motivated by retaliation; and (iii) exhibit a greater emphasis on revenge-taking in contemporary surveys and historical folklore. Our evidence suggests that a traditional form of subsistence generated a functional morality that continues to shape conflict across the globe today.

For further information please contact: giorgia.bosco@unibocconi.it