Replication Data for \"Civic Associations, Populism, and (Un-)Civic Behavior: Evidence from Germany\"

Civic associations are often expected to foster civic, pro-social behavior, but this optimistic view is increasingly contested. The political context is crucial for understanding the effects of associations. We argue that populist radical right parties can strategically target and infiltrate civic associations in order to diffuse their anti-establishment rhetoric, spreading anti-democratic attitudes and norms. We illustrate this phenomenon by examining the relationship between civic associations and compliance with government rules during the first Covid lockdown of 2020 in Germany with a difference-in-differences design. Results show that areas with denser sport, nature, and culture clubs recorded higher mobility under lockdown restrictions. To document the infiltration mechanism and the spreading of anti-democratic attitudes within associations, we use survey and election data and qualitative evidence including interviews. In doing so, we shed light on a negative effect of social networks and on an understudied strategy of challenger populist parties.

公民社团（civic associations）通常被寄予培育公民精神与亲社会行为的厚望，但这一乐观论断正日益受到学界质疑。政治语境是阐释社团作用机制的核心变量。本研究提出，激进右翼民粹主义政党可通过战略性瞄准并渗透公民社团，传播其反建制言论，进而扩散反民主态度与社会规范。为此，本研究以德国2020年首轮新冠疫情封控措施为研究场景，采用双重差分法（difference-in-differences）检验公民社团密度与民众对政府规则的依从性之间的关联，以此阐释上述现象。研究结果显示，在封控管制期间，体育、自然保护与文化社团密度更高的区域，民众出行流动率更高。为验证社团内部的渗透机制与反民主态度扩散路径，本研究使用了调查数据、选举数据以及包括访谈在内的质性研究证据。借此，本研究揭示了社交网络的负面效应，以及挑战者型民粹主义政党此前未被充分探讨的运作策略。