New survey experiments in Pakistan challenge conventional wisdom that the poor are more supportive of militant organizations. This study isolates how perceptions of relative poverty interact with exposure to violence and attitudes toward militant groups. We manipulated both poverty perception (relative deprivation) and perceived violence through carefully designed survey questions.

Our findings reveal a clear contrast: while direct poverty indicators predict less support, manipulating the psychological perception of relative poverty significantly increased support for militants — even among those experiencing hardship compared to others around them. This suggests that feelings of being relatively worse off mediate public opinion regarding political violence and militant groups.

Key Findings:

• Relative deprivation perception boosts support for militant groups

• Direct poverty measurement shows inverse relationship with support

• Manipulation studies highlight psychological mechanisms over material ones

Why It Matters:

These insights offer crucial direction for theories explaining mass responses to security crises, counterterrorism policy design, and political mobilization strategies across developing nations. The results have direct implications for understanding public opinion dynamics in conflict-ridden regions like Pakistan.