Resisting state capture from the grassroots: Civil society efforts and public perceptions

Plain language overview: This project aims to deepen understanding of state capture—a form of corruption—by focusing on the role of public opinion in mitigating state capture and democratic backsliding. It will do so by investigating the beliefs of civil society actors and public attitudes towards state capture in South Africa and evaluate the impact of two communication campaigns that aim to inspire South African citizens to support anti-state capture interventions and candidates. For the experimental design, we will produce two videos with Corruption Watch—a civil society organisation in South Africa that raises awareness about state capture in South Africa—that are meant to influence public awareness and attitudes about state capture. We will test their efficacy through a household level survey of urban centres in South Africa. The data collected will be analysed quantitatively. Project objectives 1) Investigate how the public in South Africa perceives state capture, including its impact on their lives and their attitudes toward various mechanisms of state capture and related reforms. 2) Explore the views of civil society actors on the primary public and political barriers to combating state capture. 3) Assess the influence of a civil society-led communication campaign on public attitudes, including the public’s willingness to support civic actions against state capture. 4) Examine how exposure to an anti-state capture communication campaign affects support for democracy, populist attitudes, and beliefs about the social contract (e.g. paying taxes).