Abstract

Political leaders are sensitive to threat. Scholarship in the field of political leadership has established that leaders act to minimize threats to themselves and their position as a leader. This study explores the relationship between threat and human rights response. Asking, “does the type of threat to a leader’s position influence the level of physical integrity rights violations?” This study explores whether the origin of the threat, being from the population (popular) or from institutions within the state (institutional), impacts the level of arbitrary arrest, torture, disappearances, and extrajudicial killings perpetuated by the government. Hypothesizing that institutional threats will result in greater levels of physical integrity violations than popular threats, this study conducts a comparative, longitudinal analysis of Algeria and Angola. The case study first engages in a systematic approach of both countries, determining whether threat was present. The study then establishes whether the threat was institutional and/or popular before exploring physical integrity violations. Some support was found for the second hypothesis (H2), suggesting that popular threat may influence a leader’s physical integrity response, but did not determine the severity of the response. Results related to the first hypothesis (H1) are inconclusive. Finding that the presence of threat, regardless of type, increases physical integrity response, this study offers suggestions for further research to fully examine the role of threat on human rights abuses.

Advisor

Kille, Kent

Department

Political Science

Disciplines

International Relations

Keywords

political leadership, human rights, physical integrity rights, threat

Publication Date

2023

Degree Granted

Bachelor of Arts

Document Type

Senior Independent Study Thesis

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© Copyright 2023 Haley A. Huett