Top-down democratization: effect of elite messaging on democratic attitudes in Tanzania

Abstract

In Tanzania, the ruling CCM party has recently signaled a new-found commitment to democratic norms. Statements by President Hassan announcing this new direction double as a form of elite endorsement of democratic norms and of the legitimacy of the opposition parties. In developed countries, elite messaging including these kinds of endorsements has been used as intervention to reduce affective polarization and increase democratic attitudes. This project aims to theorize and test how elite messaging about promoting collaboration and cooperation with the opposition affects citizens’ attitudes, norms, priorities and behavior in single-party contexts. To do so, we will recruit a small urban and rural sample of Tanzanian citizens, who will be randomly assigned to watch video clips of President Hassan’s speeches.We will then measure survey and lab-game based outcomes, with a large focus on non-political communal decision making outcomes.