INEQUALITY, DEPRIVATION AND VIOLENCE

From a deprivation perspective, one would expect an unconditional effe ct of inequality on violence. From a rational choice perspective, one would expect a conditional effect of inequality on violence. From the latter perspective, we may admit that inequality may unconditionally i ncrease feelings of deprivation, but rational choice actors will only turn to violence, if they perceive no more attractive peaceful course of action, and if they are not deterred by the threat of government re pression. In our rational choice view, the effect of inequality on vio lence should be conditional on regime characteristics. In cross-nation al regression analyses we demonstrate that inequality affects violence only among semi-repressive regimes. In addition, this paper also cont ains some inconclusive analyses about conditional or unconditional eff ects of economic growth rates on violence.