State-sponsored violence during the 1960s Cultural Revolution created enduring anti-government attitudes among Chinese citizens, a new study reveals. 🏛️

Repression Effects

Using regression analysis, researchers show that individuals from regions with higher exposure to state terror are today significantly less trusting of national political leaders and more critical of China's political system. 🔍

Intergenerational Transmission

Frequent family discussions about politics during childhood appear to increase the transmission of these anti-regime attitudes to younger generations.

Behavioral Consequences

Surprisingly, despite fostering resentment, this historical repression paradoxically reduced citizens' likelihood of engaging in contentious political activities. 🤔

This research demonstrates how state terror can simultaneously create conditions for long-term political alienation while suppressing immediate forms of protest - a critical finding about authoritarian governance dilemmas.