Message or Messenger? Source and Labeling Effects in Authoritarian Response to Protest

Authoritarian regimes in the 21st century have increasingly turned to using information control rather than kinetic force respond threats their rule. This paper studies an often overlooked type of control: strategic labeling and public statements by regime sources response protests. Labeling protesters as violent criminals may increase support for repression signaling that protests are illegitimate deviant. Regime sources, compared more independent could even when paired with such accusatory label. Accommodative labels should opposing effects—decreasing repression. The argument is tested a survey experiment China which environmental Accusatory meanwhile, no advantage over non-governmental shifting opinion. findings suggest negative de-legitimize legitimize while matter less this contentious authoritarian context.