Peace in the shadow of unrest: medical disturbance and state response in China

Much research on contentious politics focuses on origins and dynamics of contention or impacts of contention on policy change. Although some studies have delved into the state reactions to contention, we know relatively little about the outcome or effectiveness of state responses, especially in nondemocratic settings. This paper attempts to fill this gap and to uncover the policy feedback effect in nondemocratic settings by studying the Chinese state’s repression of violent medical disturbances (yinao). I argue that without comprehensive health reforms to tackle the root causes of yinao, state repression of yinao generates unintended adverse outcomes, causing the doctor-patient relationship to deteriorate. Using the difference-in-differences method with China Family Panel Studies data for 2014 and 2016, I find that the criminalization of yinao decreased public trust in doctors and belief in hospitals’ competence, while increasing public concerns about the healthcare system.Peer reviewe