Scholars, policymakers, and citizens alike remain invested in the impact of infectious diseases worldwide. Studies have found that emerging diseases and disease outbreaks burden global economies and public health goals. This article explores the potential link between measles outbreaks and various forms of civil unrest, such as demonstrations, riots, strikes, and other anti-government violence, in four central African countries from 1996 to 2005. Using a difference-in-differences model, we examine whether disease outbreaks have a discernible impact on the prevalence of civil unrest. While our findings indicate that the relationship between disease and civil unrest is not as strong as previously suggested, we identify a notable trend that warrants further investigation. These results have significant implications for health and policy officials in understanding the complex interplay between state fragility, civil unrest, and the spread of disease.
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10 April 2024
Contagion to unrest: Investigating the link between disease and civil unrest in Africa
Christina P. Walker,
Evan R. Cramer
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Politics and the Life Sciences
Vol. 43 • No. 1
Spring 2024
Vol. 43 • No. 1
Spring 2024
Africa
civil unrest
difference-in-differences
disease