Unpacking the effects of repression on contention: A comparative analysis of state repression in Northern Ireland’s early troubles and Israel-Palestine’s first intifada

Long-standing recognition of the multiple dimensions of the effects of state repression on popular contention and resistance has seen few attempts to explore these dimensions comprehensively and interrelatedly. We propose an analytical framework that captures the multi-dimensional effects of state repression on contention during cycles of armed conflict, focusing on four widely agreed upon, recurring dimensions: behavioral, cognitive-emotional, interactive, and spatial. We demonstrate the applicability of the framework to both within-case particularities and cross-case similarities by analyzing the multidimensional effects of two prominent instances of state repression: Bloody Sunday in Northern Ireland’s “early” Troubles and Al-Aqsa Killings in Israel-Palestine’s “first” Intifada. Our analysis highlights complex and dynamic relationships within and across the dimensions, and underlines the value of a comprehensive and interrelated analysis to a fuller understanding of the effects of state repression on contention.