What is the effect of authoritarianism on polarization within society, and how does such polarization affect collective action? This paper specifically addresses whether varying types of authoritarian strategies have an effect on the level of polarization in society, and the subsequent ability of different segments of society to coordinate. I argue that authoritarianism generates rising polarization, which in turn inhibits cooperation between groups. Specifically, the type of authoritarian strategy matters; exclusionary strategies such as repression generate higher levels of grievance and insularity, making it more difficult for groups to coordinate, than inclusionary strategies such as cooptation. To assess this dynamic, I examine a specific case of authoritarianism and polarization: the case of the Palestinian territories. Using this case, I present a two-stage theory, arguing: (1) that particular forms of authoritarianism generate polarization, and (2) that polarization subsequently affects social cohesion, and capacity for collective action. Results confirm the theory that authoritarianism, in particular forms, exacerbates polarization within society. This polarization in turn affects the ability and willingness of different segments to coordinate on a common task. In particular, exclusionary strategies such as repression generate greater levels of polarization than inclusionary strategies such as cooptation. Moreover, the qualitative evidence shows that Islamists in the West Bank, the most repressed group, are much more insular and less willing to cooperate with others. These results shed light on mechanisms of authoritarian control, and provide pathways for future research on how regimes maintain power by neutralizing opposition increasingly over time. On a substantive level, these results also explain why the Palestinian community specifically, and Arab societies more generally, suffer from increasing polarization and a decreasing capacity for collective action.

威权主义对社会内部两极分化的影响是什么，这种分化如何影响集体行动？本文专门探讨了不同类型的威权主义策略是否会影响社会两极分化的程度，以及随后社会不同阶层进行协调的能力。我认为威权主义会产生两极分化的加剧，反过来又阻碍了群体之间的合作。具体而言，威权战略的类型很重要；排斥等排他性策略会产生更高程度的不满和与世隔绝，这使得群体之间的协调比融合等其他包容性策略更加困难。为了评估这种动态，我研究了威权主义和两极分化的一个具体案例：巴勒斯坦领土的案例。在这种情况下，我提出了一个两阶段的理论，认为：（1）特定形式的威权主义会产生两极分化；（2）两极分化随后会影响社会凝聚力和集体行动能力。结果证实了专制主义，特别是形式主义，加剧了社会内部的两极分化的理论。这种两极分化反过来影响了不同部门协调共同任务的能力和意愿。尤其是，诸如压制之类的排他性策略产生的极化程度要比诸如共同采用之类的排他性策略产生更大的极化。此外，定性证据表明，西岸的伊斯兰主义者是最受压制的群体，他们更加孤立，不愿与他人合作。这些结果揭示了威权控制的机制，并为以后研究政权如何通过逐渐消灭反对派而维持权力提供了途径。从实质意义上讲，这些结果也解释了为什么巴勒斯坦社区，特别是阿拉伯社会，更趋于两极分化，集体行动能力下降。