Table 6 Justification for political violence, in general and for 9 specific objectives
What do you think about the use of force or violence in the following situations? | 2022 Respondents (n= 12,947) | 2023 Respondents (n=9385) | 2024 Respondents (n=8896) | Mean Difference, * 2022-2023 | Mean Difference, * 2023-2024 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Unweighted n | Weighted % (95% CI) Mean score (95% CI) | Unweighted n | Weighted % (95% CI) Mean score (95% CI) | Unweighted n | Weighted % (95% CI) Mean score (95% CI) | Unweighted n | Weighted % (95% CI) Mean score (95% CI) | Unweighted n | Weighted % (95% CI) Mean score (95% CI) | |
In general…to advance an important political objective that you support | ||||||||||
Never justified (1) | 10,696 | 79.6 (78.6, 80.5) | 7642 | 78.1 (76.9, 79.3) | 7147 | 77.3 (76.0, 78.5) | 9385 | − 1.7 (− 3.0, − 0.5) | 8185 | − 0.9 (− 2.2, 0.4) |
Sometimes justified (2) | 1966 | 17.1 (16.2, 18.0) | 1560 | 18.9 (17.7, 20.0) | 1583 | 19.5 (18.4, 20.7) | 9385 | 1.9 (0.7, 3.2) | 8185 | 0.6 (− 0.6, 1.9) |
Usually or always justified (3) | 246 | 2.9 (2.5, 3.4) | 136 | 2.2 (1.7, 2.7) | 108 | 2.0 (1.6, 2.6) | 9385 | − 0.6 (− 1.3, 0.0) | 8185 | 0.0 (− 0.7, 0.7) |
Non-response | 39 | 0.4 (0.2, 0.5) | 47 | 0.8 (0.5, 1.1) | 58 | 1.2 (0.8, 1.6) | 9385 | 0.4 (0.2, 0.7) | 8185 | 0.3 (− 0.1, 0.6) |
Item score† | 12,908 | 1.23 (1.22, 1.24) | 9338 | 1.23 (1.22, 1.25) | 8838 | 1.24 (1.22, 1.25) | 9325 | 0.009 (− 0.007, 0.025) | 8109 | 0.008 (− 0.008, 0.024) |
Violence is usually or always justified to advance at least 1 of 17 objectives (unrestricted)‡ | 4386 | 32.5 (31.5, 33.6) | 2684 | 28.2 (26.9, 29.4) | 2834 | 30.0 (28.7, 31.3) | 9385 | − 3.9 (− 5.3, − 2.5) | 8185 | 2.2 (0.8, 3.6) |
Violence is usually or always justified to advance at least 1 of 17 objectives (restricted)‡ | 4386 | 32.5 (31.5, 33.6) | 2361 | 25.3 (24.1, 26.5) | 2432 | 26.2 (25.0, 27.5) | 9385 | − 6.8 (− 8.1, − 5.4) | 8896 | − 5.3 (− 6.8, − 3.9) |
To return Donald Trump to the presidency this year§ | ||||||||||
Never justified (1) | 11,552 | 87.1 (86.3, 87.9) | 8453 | 88.5 (87.5, 89.5) | 7977 | 88.6 (87.6, 89.5) | 9338 | 1.1 (0.1, 2.2) | 8109 | − 0.6 (− 1.7, 0.4) |
Sometimes justified (2) | 625 | 6.0 (5.4, 6.6) | 375 | 4.9 (4.2, 5.6) | 395 | 5.9 (5.1, 6.7) | 9338 | − 1.0 (− 1.9, − 0.1) | 8109 | 1.1 (0.3, 2.0) |
Usually or always justified (3) | 616 | 5.3 (4.8, 5.8) | 455 | 5.8 (5.1, 6.5) | 400 | 4.6 (4.0, 5.2) | 9338 | 0.3 (− 0.6, 1.1) | 8109 | − 0.8 (− 1.5, − 0.1) |
Non-response | 154 | 1.6 (1.3, 1.9) | 55 | 0.8 (0.5, 1.1) | 66 | 1.0 (0.7, 1.4) | 9338 | − 0.4 (− 0.8, − 0.1) | 8109 | 0.3 (0.0, 0.6) |
Item score† | 12,793 | 1.17 (1.16, 1.18) | 9283 | 1.17 (1.15, 1.18) | 8772 | 1.15 (1.14, 1.17) | 9211 | − 0.007 (− 0.023, 0.010) | 8033 | − 0.003 (− 0.019, 0.012) |
To stop an election from being stolen§ | ||||||||||
Never justified (1) | 9516 | 73.6 (72.6, 74.6) | 7235 | 77.2 (76.0, 78.4) | 6722 | 76.9 (75.7, 78.1) | 9338 | 2.8 (1.5, 4.2) | 8109 | − 0.3 (− 1.7, 1.0) |
Sometimes justified (2) | 2219 | 16.7 (15.8, 17.5) | 1388 | 14.8 (13.8, 15.8) | 1433 | 15.4 (14.4, 16.4) | 9338 | − 1.7 (− 3.0, − 0.5) | 8109 | 0.3 (− 1.0, 1.6) |
Usually or always justified (3) | 1065 | 8.3 (7.7, 8.9) | 663 | 7.3 (6.5, 8.0) | 624 | 6.8 (6.1, 7.6) | 9338 | − 0.8 (− 1.7, 0.1) | 8109 | − 0.2 (− 1.2, 0.7) |
Non-response | 147 | 1.5 (1.2, 1.8) | 52 | 0.8 (0.5, 1.1) | 59 | 0.9 (0.7, 1.3) | 9338 | − 0.3 (− 0.7, 0.1) | 8109 | 0.3 (0.0, 0.6) |
Item score† | 12,800 | 1.34 (1.32, 1.35) | 9286 | 1.30 (1.28, 1.31) | 8779 | 1.29 (1.28, 1.31) | 9223 | − 0.035 (− 0.054, − 0.016) | 8044 | 0.000 (− 0.019, 0.020) |
To stop people who do not share my beliefs from voting§ | ||||||||||
Never justified (1) | 12,178 | 91.6 (90.9, 92.3) | 8852 | 91.7 (90.8, 92.6) | 8415 | 92.9 (92.0, 93.7) | 9338 | 0.0 (− 0.9, 0.9) | 8109 | 0.5 (− 0.5, 1.4) |
Sometimes justified (2) | 428 | 4.7 (4.1, 5.2) | 277 | 4.8 (4.1, 5.6) | 244 | 4.0 (3.3, 4.7) | 9338 | 0.2 (− 0.6, 1.1) | 8109 | − 0.5 (− 1.4, 0.4) |
Usually or always justified (3) | 208 | 2.4 (2.0, 2.8) | 159 | 2.7 (2.2, 3.2) | 133 | 2.4 (1.9, 2.9) | 9338 | 0.1 (− 0.5, 0.7) | 8109 | − 0.2 (− 0.8, 0.5) |
Non-response | 133 | 1.4 (1.1, 1.7) | 50 | 0.8 (0.5, 1.0) | 46 | 0.8 (0.5, 1.1) | 9338 | − 0.3 (− 0.7, 0.0) | 8109 | 0.2 (− 0.1, 0.5) |
Item score† | 12,814 | 1.10 (1.09, 1.11) | 9288 | 1.10 (1.09, 1.12) | 8792 | 1.09 (1.08, 1.10) | 9227 | 0.004 (− 0.008, 0.017) | 8050 | − 0.006 (− 0.020, 0.007) |
To prevent discrimination based on race or ethnicity§ | ||||||||||
Never justified (1) | 8438 | 62.3 (61.2, 63.4) | 6929 | 70.4 (69.1, 71.7) | 6580 | 71.9 (70.6, 73.2) | 9338 | 7.7 (6.1, 9.2) | 8109 | 1.0 (− 0.5, 2.5) |
Sometimes justified (2) | 3388 | 27.1 (26.1, 28.1) | 1750 | 20.3 (19.1, 21.4) | 1691 | 20.4 (19.2, 21.6) | 9338 | − 6.7 (− 8.2, − 5.2) | 8109 | 0.3 (− 1.1, 1.8) |
Usually or always justified (3) | 974 | 9.0 (8.3, 9.7) | 607 | 8.5 (7.6, 9.4) | 513 | 7.0 (6.2, 7.8) | 9338 | − 0.6 (− 1.6, 0.5) | 8109 | − 1.5 (− 2.5, − 0.5) |
Non-response | 147 | 1.5 (1.2, 1.8) | 52 | 0.8 (0.5, 1.1) | 54 | 0.8 (0.5, 1.1) | 9338 | − 0.4 (− 0.8, − 0.1) | 8109 | 0.1 (− 0.2, 0.4) |
Item score† | 12,800 | 1.46 (1.44, 1.47) | 9286 | 1.38 (1.36, 1.39) | 8784 | 1.35 (1.33, 1.36) | 9216 | − 0.081 (− 0.103, − 0.059) | 8047 | − 0.024 (− 0.046, − 0.003) |
To preserve an American way of life based on Western European traditions§ | ||||||||||
Never justified (1) | 9329 | 74.2 (73.2, 75.1) | 7267 | 79.2 (78.1, 80.3) | 6723 | 78.1 (76.9, 79.2) | 9338 | 4.8 (3.5, 6.1) | 8109 | − 1.5 (− 2.9, − 0.2) |
Sometimes justified (2) | 2705 | 18.6 (17.8, 19.5) | 1513 | 14.4 (13.4, 15.3) | 1608 | 16.2 (15.2, 17.3) | 9338 | − 4.1 (− 5.3, − 2.8) | 8109 | 2.0 (0.6, 3.3) |
Usually or always justified (3) | 710 | 5.3 (4.8, 5.8) | 483 | 5.5 (4.8, 6.2) | 443 | 4.8 (4.2, 5.4) | 9338 | − 0.1 (− 0.9, 0.8) | 8109 | − 0.6 (− 1.5, 0.2) |
Non-response | 203 | 1.9 (1.6, 2.2) | 75 | 1.0 (0.7, 1.3) | 64 | 1.0 (0.7, 1.3) | 9338 | − 0.6 (− 1.0, − 0.2) | 8109 | 0.2 (− 0.1, 0.6) |
Item score† | 12,744 | 1.30 (1.29, 1.31) | 9263 | 1.26 (1.24, 1.27) | 8774 | 1.26 (1.24, 1.28) | 9159 | − 0.046 (− 0.064, − 0.029) | 8023 | 0.008 (− 0.011, 0.027) |
To preserve an American way of life I believe in§ | ||||||||||
Never justified (1) | 6720 | 55.7 (54.6, 56.8) | 6241 | 69.8 (68.6, 71.1) | 5876 | 69.5 (68.2, 70.8) | 9338 | 13.2 (11.7, 14.6) | 8109 | − 1.0 (− 2.5, 0.5) |
Sometimes justified (2) | 4449 | 31.6 (30.5, 32.6) | 2221 | 20.9 (19.8, 22.1) | 2188 | 21.8 (20.6, 22.9) | 9338 | − 10.7 (− 12.2, − 9.2) | 8109 | 0.9 (− 0.6, 2.3) |
Usually or always justified (3) | 1697 | 11.9 (11.2, 12.6) | 804 | 8.3 (7.5, 9.0) | 714 | 7.8 (7.1, 8.6) | 9338 | − 2.8 (− 3.8, − 1.8) | 8109 | 0.0 (− 1.0, 0.9) |
Non-response | 81 | 0.9 (0.6, 1.1) | 72 | 1.0 (0.7, 1.3) | 60 | 0.9 (0.6, 1.2) | 9338 | 0.4 (0.0, 0.7) | 8109 | 0.2 (− 0.1, 0.5) |
Item score† | 12,866 | 1.56 (1.54, 1.57) | 9266 | 1.38 (1.36, 1.40) | 8778 | 1.38 (1.36, 1.40) | 9236 | − 0.164 (− 0.184, − 0.143) | 8039 | 0.009 (− 0.011, 0.030) |
To oppose Americans who do not share my beliefs§ | ||||||||||
Never justified (1) | 11,746 | 88.5 (87.7, 89.3) | 8564 | 88.7 (87.7, 89.7) | 8135 | 89.7 (88.7, 90.6) | 9338 | − 0.2 (− 1.2, 0.9) | 8109 | 0.3 (− 0.8, 1.4) |
Sometimes justified (2) | 871 | 7.9 (7.3, 8.6) | 526 | 7.5 (6.7, 8.4) | 487 | 6.9 (6.1, 7.7) | 9338 | − 0.5 (− 1.5, 0.5) | 8109 | − 0.2 (− 1.2, 0.9) |
Usually or always justified (3) | 263 | 2.8 (2.4, 3.2) | 184 | 2.9 (2.4, 3.5) | 170 | 2.8 (2.3, 3.4) | 9338 | 0.2 (− 0.4, 0.9) | 8109 | − 0.2 (− 0.8, 0.5) |
Non-response | 67 | 0.7 (0.5, 1.0) | 64 | 0.9 (0.6, 1.2) | 46 | 0.7 (0.5, 1.0) | 9338 | 0.4 (0.1, 0.7) | 8109 | 0.0 (− 0.2, 0.3) |
Item score† | 12,880 | 1.14 (1.13, 1.15) | 9274 | 1.13 (1.12, 1.15) | 8792 | 1.12 (1.11, 1.14) | 9250 | − 0.001 (− 0.015, 0.013) | 8050 | − 0.005 (− 0.019, 0.009) |
To oppose the government when it does not share my beliefs§ | ||||||||||
Never justified (1) | 10,607 | 80.2 (79.2, 81.1) | 7890 | 82.2 (81.0, 83.3) | 7459 | 82.3 (81.1, 83.5) | 9338 | 2.1 (0.9, 3.3) | 8109 | − 0.5 (− 1.7, 0.8) |
Sometimes justified (2) | 1859 | 14.9 (14.1, 15.8) | 1107 | 13.0 (12.0, 14.0) | 1095 | 13.6 (12.6, 14.6) | 9338 | − 1.9 (− 3.1, − 0.7) | 8109 | 0.7 (− 0.6, 2.0) |
Usually or always justified (3) | 338 | 3.4 (2.9, 3.8) | 283 | 3.9 (3.3, 4.5) | 230 | 3.3 (2.8, 4.0) | 9338 | 0.2 (− 0.5, 0.9) | 8109 | − 0.3 (− 1.1, 0.5) |
Non-response | 143 | 1.5 (1.2, 1.8) | 58 | 0.9 (0.6, 1.1) | 54 | 0.8 (0.5, 1.1) | 9338 | − 0.4 (− 0.8, 0.0) | 8109 | 0.1 (− 0.2, 0.4) |
Item score† | 12,804 | 1.22 (1.21, 1.23) | 9280 | 1.21 (1.20, 1.23) | 8784 | 1.20 (1.19, 1.22) | 9219 | − 0.018 (− 0.034, − 0.001) | 8039 | 0.002 (− 0.015, 0.018) |
To oppose the government when it tries to take private land for public purposes§ | ||||||||||
Never justified (1) | 7870 | 60.7 (59.6, 61.8) | 6336 | 67.6 (66.2, 68.9) | 5795 | 65.7 (64.3, 67.1) | 9338 | 6.3 (4.8, 7.8) | 8109 | − 1.8 (− 3.3, − 0.3) |
Sometimes justified (2) | 3787 | 28.3 (27.3, 29.3) | 2260 | 23.4 (22.2, 24.5) | 2295 | 24.9 (23.7, 26.2) | 9338 | − 4.4 (− 6.0, − 2.9) | 8109 | 1.5 (− 0.1, 3.0) |
Usually or always justified (3) | 1141 | 9.5 (8.8, 10.2) | 682 | 8.2 (7.4, 9.0) | 693 | 8.5 (7.7, 9.4) | 9338 | − 1.5 (− 2.5, − 0.5) | 8109 | 0.3 (− 0.7, 1.3) |
Non-response | 149 | 1.5 (1.2, 1.8) | 60 | 0.9 (0.6, 1.2) | 55 | 0.8 (0.6, 1.2) | 9338 | − 0.3 (− 0.7, 0.1) | 8109 | 0.1 (− 0.2, 0.4) |
Item score† | 12,798 | 1.48 (1.47, 1.50) | 9278 | 1.40 (1.38, 1.42) | 8783 | 1.42 (1.40, 1.44) | 9204 | − 0.078 (− 0.098, − 0.058) | 8034 | 0.022 (0.001, 0.042) |