Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0

Author-Name: Stefano Gagliarducci
Author-X-Name-First: Stefano
Author-X-Name-Last: Gagliarducci

Author-Name: Massimiliano Gaetano Onorato
Author-X-Name-First: Massimiliano Gaetano
Author-X-Name-Last: Onorato
Author-Email: massimiliano.onorato@unicatt.it
Author-Workplace-Name: Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore
Author-Workplace-Name: Dipartimento di Economia e Finanza, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore

Author-Name: Francesco Sobbrio
Author-X-Name-First: Francesco 
Author-X-Name-Last: Sobbrio


Author-Name: Guido Tabellini
Author-X-Name-First: Guido 
Author-X-Name-Last: Tabellini



Title: War of the Waves: Radio and Resistance During World War II.


Abstract: What is the role of the media in coordinating and mobilizing insurgency against
a foreign military occupation? We analyze this question in the context of the Nazi-
fascist occupation of Italy during WWII. We study the effect of BBC radio counter-
propaganda (Radio Londra) on the intensity of internal resistance to the Nazi-fascist
regime. Using variation in monthly sunspot activities affecting the sky-wave propagation
of BBC broadcasting towards Italy, we show that BBC radio had a strong impact on
political violence. We provide further evidence to prove that BBC radio played an
important role in coordinating resistance activities, but had no lasting role in motivating
the population against the fascist regime.
Length: 54
Creation-Date: 2018-02
File-URL: http://dipartimenti.unicatt.it/economia-finanza-def066.pdf
File-Format: Application/pdf
File-Function: First version, 2018
Number: def066
Classification-JEL: D74, L82, N44. 
Keywords: Media, BBC, Counter-propaganda, Insurgency, Violence, WWII, Sunspots.
Handle: RePEc:ctc:serie1:def066