Analysis
Table 2 reports the results of the negative binominal regression model. The interaction between higher education and GDP growth causes a statistically significant decrease in civil unrest. The results support the proposed hypothesis; increased university enrollment and economic growth together decrease the frequency of riots and protests in African countries.
In addition, the results report that increases in primary and secondary education also increase civil unrest. Relatively speaking although the measure is small, the results show that individuals who do not have access to higher education experience unrest because they understand the idea of stability. Individuals understand stability based on the Human Capital theory has which explains more education and experience equals a greater salary. Therefore, individuals demand educational access and if not granted, individuals engage in civil unrest. Lastly, higher education proves to be statically significant. Increases in higher level education enrollment, increases the likelihood of civil unrest. In this we conclude that Thyne’s (2006) hypothesis was correct, that more students riot because they are the voice of political change.
The control variables were insignificant. Polity 2 scores, civil war, the measure of ethnic polarization were largely unrelated to whether civil unrest occurred. This suggests that democracy, previous conflict, and ethnic polarization are largely unrelated to civil unrest.