What is the effect of authoritarianism on polarization within society, and how does such polarization affect collective action? The argument of the chapter is that authoritarianism generates rising polarization, which in turn inhibits collective action—particularly against the regime. Specifically, the type of authoritarian strategy matters; exclusionary strategies such as repression generate higher levels of grievance and insularity, making it more difficult for groups to coordinate, than inclusionary strategies such as cooptation. The chapter presents a two-stage theory: arguing, firstly, that particular forms of authoritarianism generate polarization, and, secondly, that polarization subsequently affects social cohesion, and capacity for collective action. Results confirm the theory that authoritarianism, in particular forms, exacerbates polarization within society. This polarization in turn affects the ability and willingness of different segments to coordinate on a common task. In particular, exclusionary strategies such as repression generate greater levels of polarization than inclusionary strategies such as cooptation. Moreover, the qualitative evidence shows that Islamists in the West Bank, the most repressed group, are much more insular and less willing to cooperate with others.
