Working Paper: CEPR ID: DP12746
Authors: Guido Tabellini; Francesco Sobbrio; Massimiliano Onorato; Stefano Gagliarducci
Abstract: What is the role of the media in coordinating and mobilizing insurgency against a foreign military occupation? We analyze this question in the context of the Nazi-fascist occupation of Italy during WWII. We study the effect of BBC radio counter-propaganda (Radio Londra) on the intensity of internal resistance to the Nazi-fascist regime. Using variation in monthly sunspot activities affecting the sky-wave propagation of BBC broadcasting towards Italy, we show that BBC radio had a strong impact on political violence. We provide further evidence to prove that BBC radio played an important role in coordinating resistance activities, but had no lasting role in motivating the population against the fascist regime.
Keywords: media; bbc; counterpropaganda; insurgency; violence; wwii; sunspots
JEL Codes: D74; L82; N44
Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| BBC signal strength (Y10) | intensity of resistance against the Nazi-fascist regime (D74) |
| BBC broadcasts (Y10) | operational coordination of resistance activities (D74) |
| BBC broadcasts (Y10) | civilian mobilization (H56) |
| BBC signal strength (Y10) | Nazi-fascist violence related to partisan and civilian resistance (D74) |
| BBC broadcasts vs EIAR and allied forces radio (L32) | observable effects on resistance (C90) |