Replication Data for: Encompassing Authority in Election Campaign Mobilization

Where central state authority is limited, local leaders play a crucial role in political mobilization. But why are some more effective than others? Dominant explanations emphasize leader characteristics – such as social centrality and shared social identity with voters – or individuals’ traits like wealth and gender. We argue that a critical factor has been overlooked: the breadth of leaders’ perceived influence across various domains of individuals’ lives. We introduce and test the concept of Encompassing Authority – the extent to which individuals perceive a leader as influencing multiple aspects of their lives. Drawing on original survey data from Zambia’s 2021 elections, we examine three types of local mobilizers: religious leaders, chiefs, and local councillors. We show Encompassing Authority predicts mobilization in campaigns and community meetings independently of leader and individual characteristics. We identify three mechanisms that explain this effect: belief in the leader’s legitimacy, fear of sanctions for non-compliance, and confidence in their ability to coordinate collective action. By conceptualizing authority as a dyadic, relational property rather than fixed characteristic of leaders or individuals, our study offers new insights into the underpinnings of political mobilization and opens avenues for future work.