Research note: Rise in violence against U.S. mayors: 2017 to 2021.
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| Title: | Research note: Rise in violence against U.S. mayors: 2017 to 2021. |
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| Authors: | Herrick, Rebekah (AUTHOR), Thomas, Sue (AUTHOR) |
| Source: | Social Science Quarterly (Wiley-Blackwell). Mar2023, Vol. 104 Issue 2, p81-91. 11p. 1 Chart. |
| Subjects: | Trump, Donald, 1946-, Mayoral elections, COVID-19, Mayors, Violence |
| Geographic Terms: | United States |
| Abstract: | Background: Although there is an emerging literature in the United States about violence against officeholders, to date there is no research examining trends in violence against U.S. politicians. Objectives: To examine whether volence against US mayors increased from 2017 to 2021 and whether social and political factors help account for the rise. Methods: we report the results of two surveys of mayors in the United States: one in 2017 and the other in 2021. We compare the results of the two surveys and report on mayors' perceptions of changes in the rates of violence. Results: We find that psychological and physical violence against mayors have risen between 2017 and 2021 and that several momentous political events of those years are associated with mayors' perceptions of increases in violence. In specific, levels of partisanship, the rise and conduct of the Trump presidency and its aftermath, and public reactions to the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic were significantly associated with mayoral perceptions of rises in violence. Conclusion: That violence against US mayors is high and increasing raises concerns about the health of our democracy as it may limit the pool of Americans willing to run for office. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Copyright of Social Science Quarterly (Wiley-Blackwell) is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) | |
| Database: | Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection |
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| Abstract: | Background: Although there is an emerging literature in the United States about violence against officeholders, to date there is no research examining trends in violence against U.S. politicians. Objectives: To examine whether volence against US mayors increased from 2017 to 2021 and whether social and political factors help account for the rise. Methods: we report the results of two surveys of mayors in the United States: one in 2017 and the other in 2021. We compare the results of the two surveys and report on mayors' perceptions of changes in the rates of violence. Results: We find that psychological and physical violence against mayors have risen between 2017 and 2021 and that several momentous political events of those years are associated with mayors' perceptions of increases in violence. In specific, levels of partisanship, the rise and conduct of the Trump presidency and its aftermath, and public reactions to the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic were significantly associated with mayoral perceptions of rises in violence. Conclusion: That violence against US mayors is high and increasing raises concerns about the health of our democracy as it may limit the pool of Americans willing to run for office. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
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| ISSN: | 00384941 |
| DOI: | 10.1111/ssqu.13255 |
