CAMEO POLITICAL codes — conflict

The coercive half of the numeric CAMEO 2.0 codebook as GDELT Cloud applies it — 7 roots and 119 leaves, 126 codes in total. The other half is on CAMEO POLITICAL codes — cooperation. A root is a valid filter value on its own and matches every leaf beneath it, so code=03 is the way to ask for “expressed intent to cooperate” without choosing a leaf. Diplomatic, cooperative, verbal-conflict, and non-violent coercive political events. The boundary with ACLED is DID IT HAPPEN, OR WAS IT SAID: everything spoken — a threat, warning, demand, ultimatum or accusation — is a speech act and is coded here, however violent its subject matter, while physical violence, arrests of political figures (173) and violent repression of protesters (175) that ACTUALLY OCCURRED belong to ACLED. At least one actor must be a national government body, government agency, international organization, or named political figure of national or international prominence; purely local administrative routine (city council votes, local school board decisions, municipal budget approvals, local zoning ordinances) is out of scope. How the metrics read in this domain. magnitude uses the CAMEO coercion ladder (peace/truce 1 → accuse 4 → sanction/threaten-force 7-8 → use-force 9-10), and goldstein_scale carries the cooperation/conflict direction; systemic_importance asks how much the wider system depends on the government or institution acted on, not how many states are mentioned

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10 · DEMAND

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10

DEMAND CAMEO cue category 10, DEMAND. Official residual 100 “Demand, not specified below”: all demands and orders not otherwise specified. Demands are stronger or more forceful and potentially carry more serious repercussions — although not as much as threats — than simple appeals; the codebook relies primarily on the language used by reporters to make that distinction. All demands are verbal acts. Also covers

• PREFER THIS BARE ROOT OVER 100. 10 and 100 are the identical “family but no leaf” answer; there is no article-decidable difference. When no leaf fits, emit 10 and never 100.
• Use only when distinctions among codes 101-108 cannot be made — this is a residual category.

Does not cover

• A demand carrying an explicit threat of retaliation → category 13 (THREATEN).
• A demand expressed through demonstrations, strikes or protest activity → category 14 (PROTEST; absent from this repo).
• A request without the forcefulness reporters signal for a demand → category 02 (APPEAL).

goldstein_scale -5

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100

Demand, not specified below CAMEO 100, “Demand, not specified below”: all demands and orders not otherwise specified. Also covers

• Demands are stronger or more forceful and potentially carry more serious repercussions — although not as much as threats — than simple appeals; CAMEO relies primarily on the language used by reporters to make that distinction. All demands are verbal acts.

Does not cover

• Residual: CAMEO does not code 100 except when the distinctions among the more specific 101-108 codes cannot be made.
• SAME MEANING AS THE BARE ROOT 10. This taxonomy makes 2-digit roots assignable, so 10 and 100 denote the identical “family but no leaf” case. Prefer the bare root 10 when coding; 100 is carried because it is the official CAMEO spelling and so that a caller filtering on official CAMEO gets a valid subcategory rather than a 400.

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101

Demand material cooperation Demand material cooperation, not specified below: require, demand that target engages in some form of material exchange. Also covers

• ANY demanded material exchange qualifies — economic, military, judicial or intelligence. Demanding information or compliance with an investigation is only ONE instance (the judicial/intelligence flavour), not the whole code.
• Demands for judicial cooperation, such as extradition of criminals, or compliance with the requirements of an investigation, are coded here.
• Official sub-categories are 1011 economic, 1012 military, 1013 judicial, 1014 intelligence — all four are carried; use them whenever the article names the domain, and code the bare 101 only when it does not.

Does not cover

• Demands for provision of aid rather than mutual exchange → 103 and its sub-codes.

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102

Demand policy support Demand for diplomatic cooperation (such as policy support): require, demand expansion of diplomatic ties or cooperation. Covers demands for expanded diplomatic ties and for non-tangible support on particular policies. Does not cover

• ★ 102 vs 1042 — measured as a live coin-flip, and the test is WHOSE POLICY. 102 demands the target BACK THE SOURCE’S position (support our resolution, endorse our plan, vote with us). 1042 demands the target CHANGE ITS OWN policy (repeal the law, drop the tariff, reverse the decision).
• Demands for more specific forms of diplomacy — meeting/negotiation (106), settling a dispute (107), mediation (108) — are coded elsewhere within category 10.

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103

Demand material aid Demand material aid, not specified below: require, demand provision of material assistance not otherwise specified. Also covers

• The source may demand aid for itself or on behalf of a third party; in either case the actor expected to PROVIDE the assistance is coded as the target.
• Official sub-categories are 1031 economic aid, 1032 military aid, 1033 humanitarian aid, 1034 military protection or peacekeeping — all four are carried; use them whenever the article names the kind of aid, and code the bare 103 only when it does not.
• A demand for MILITARY PROTECTION or for peacekeeping forces is 1034, not this 103 parent.

Does not cover

• Demands for mutual material exchange rather than one-way assistance → 101.

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104

Demand political reform Demand political reform, not specified below: require, demand political change not otherwise specified. This event form refers to verbal and non-threatening demands. Also covers

• CODE THE BARE 104 ONLY WHEN THE ARTICLE DOES NOT SAY WHAT CHANGE IS DEMANDED. Resign, step down, hold elections → 1041; change a named policy → 1042; grant or restore a named right → 1043; constitution, electoral law, institutions, system of government → 1044.
• Source actors can be local citizens as well as international actors, acting on their own behalf or on behalf of others.

Does not cover

• Demands that take the form of demonstrations, protests, etc. → category 14 (PROTEST).
• When the requested reform clearly constitutes a concession or yielding by the target — e.g. easing administrative sanctions already in place — a code under 105 is more appropriate.

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105

Demand that target yield Demand that target yield, not specified below: require, demand that target yields or concedes, not otherwise specified. Typically, although not exclusively, a verbal act. The source need not be one of the adversaries — a third party may demand that one or more parties to a conflict (coded as targets) yield. Also covers

• Official sub-categories are 1051 ease administrative sanctions, 1052 ease political dissent, 1053 release persons or property, 1054 ease economic sanctions/boycott/embargo, 1055 allow international involvement (non-mediation), 1056 de-escalate military engagement — all six are carried; use them whenever the article names which concession is demanded, and code the bare 105 only when it does not.
• A demand for a CEASEFIRE, military withdrawal or demobilization is 1056, not this 105 parent.

Does not cover

• When a THREAT is attached to the demand for yielding → the appropriate code under category 13.
• When the demand is accompanied by protest activity → category 14.
• When the yielding ACTUALLY TAKES PLACE → the appropriate code under category 08.

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106

Demand meeting/negotiation Demand meeting, negotiation: require or demand that the target meet, discuss, or negotiate. This event form is a verbal act. Does not cover

• A demand that the parties reach a SETTLEMENT → 107.
• A demand that a third party mediate, or that adversaries accept mediation → 108.
• A non-forceful REQUEST to meet or negotiate, rather than a demand → 026.

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107

Demand settling of dispute Demand settling of dispute: order parties to a conflict to reach a settlement, agreement, or resolution of the conflict. Typically, although not exclusively, a verbal act. Also covers

• The source CANNOT be one of the adversaries themselves — this is a demand made of the parties by someone else.

Does not cover

• A demand for a ceasefire, military withdrawal or demobilization is 1056 — NOT 107.
• When a party to the conflict itself calls for ending the conflict, that is an expression of intent by that actor → 037, not 107.

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108

Demand mediation Demand mediation: require or demand that a third party mediates a conflict, or that adversaries accept the mediation of another party. This event form is a verbal act. Also covers

• Either the adversaries or a prospective mediator can be coded as the target.

Does not cover

• Demands made BY a potential mediator are not coded here — 108 specifically refers to demands by actors other than potential mediators.

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1011

Demand economic cooperation CAMEO 1011, “Demand economic cooperation”: require, demand that the target engages in economic exchange or expands such ties. Also covers

• Demands for economic activities such as trade and investment.

Does not cover

• Demands for provision of economic AID — not mutual exchange — are 1031.

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1012

Demand military cooperation CAMEO 1012, “Demand military cooperation”: require, demand that the target engages in or expands military relations. Also covers

• Demands that the target engage in military cooperation, such as through joint exercises or weapon sales.

Does not cover

• Demands for provision of military AID — not mutual exchange — are 1032.

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1013

Demand judicial cooperation CAMEO 1013, “Demand judicial cooperation”: require, demand that the target engages in or expands cooperation in judicial matters. Also covers

• Demands that the target engage in judicial cooperation, such as through extraditing wanted individuals.

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1014

Demand intelligence cooperation CAMEO 1014, “Demand intelligence cooperation”: require, demand that the target exchanges intelligence or information. Also covers

• Demands that the target engage in intelligence cooperation, including but not limited to the exchange of information in security matters.

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1031

Demand economic aid CAMEO 1031, “Demand economic aid”: require, demand provision of economic assistance. Typically, although not exclusively, a verbal act. Also covers

• Demands for loans or debt relief.

Does not cover

• Demands for reciprocal economic exchange, such as trade, are 1011.

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1032

Demand military aid CAMEO 1032, “Demand military aid”: require, demand provision of military assistance. Does not cover

• Demands for military security and for the deployment of peacekeepers are 1034.

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1033

Demand humanitarian aid CAMEO 1033, “Demand humanitarian aid”: require, demand provision of humanitarian aid. Also covers

• Demands by refugees to be let into the territories of other countries (coded as the target), and asylum demands.
• These are not necessarily verbal acts — refugees could be actively seeking shelter or refuge in target countries or regions.

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1034

Demand military protection or peacekeeping CAMEO 1034, “Demand military protection or peacekeeping”: require, demand that the target provides military protection or peacekeeping forces. Also covers

• The source may demand protection for itself or on behalf of another party.

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1041

Change leadership Demand leadership change: require, demand change in leadership or power. Verbal and non-threatening. Also covers

• Demands that the target resign or relinquish power are coded here even though they are forms of yielding.
• Demands for elections are coded here — unless they are first-time elections and hence constitute major institutional change (1044).

Does not cover

• Demands taking the form of demonstrations or protests → category 14.

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1042

Policy change Demand policy change: require, demand change in any particular policy. Verbal and non-threatening. The policy in question, like the source actor, may be domestic or international in nature. Does not cover

• Demands taking the form of demonstrations or protests → category 14.
• If the demanded policy change is in substance a demand that the target yield or concede, code under 105 instead — the codebook’s own example is that demands for military withdrawal belong at 1056.

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1043

Rights Demand rights: require, demand provision or expansion of social, political, or other rights. Verbal and non-threatening. Does not cover

• Demands taking the form of demonstrations or protests → category 14.
• If demanding the rights is in substance demanding that the target yield or concede, code under 105 — the codebook cites demands for compensation for previously violated rights as a 105.

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1044

Institutional/regime change Demand change in institutions, regime: require, demand major institutional, constitutional, or regime change. Institutional change differs from policy change in that it directly alters the rules of the game. Also covers

• Demands for fundamental changes in the political system (e.g. democratization) AND more limited institutional changes (e.g. changing electoral law) are both coded here. A demand does NOT have to seek the fall of a regime to be a 1044 — altering the rules of the game is enough.

Does not cover

• Ordinary policy reform → 1042.

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1051

Demand easing of administrative sanctions CAMEO 1051, “Demand easing of administrative sanctions”: require, demand that the target relaxes administrative restrictions. Also covers

• Use when a government is pushed to undertake political changes that clearly constitute some form of concession or yielding, such as relaxing or removing bans, curfews, or other restrictions already in place.

Does not cover

• Demands that take the form of demonstrations, protests, etc. are category 14 (PROTEST; ACLED scope in this repo).
• ECONOMIC sanctions, boycotts and embargoes are 1054, not 1051.

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1052

Demand easing of political dissent CAMEO 1052, “Demand easing of political dissent”: require, demand that the target stops political protest activities. Also covers

• Demands that the target stop engaging in protests, demonstrations, strikes, etc.

Does not cover

• This code refers EXCLUSIVELY to verbal demands. If the source actively seeks to stop the activities through repressive measures, that is 175 (ACLED scope in this repo).

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1053

Demand release of persons or property CAMEO 1053, “Demand release of persons or property”: require, demand that the target releases persons or property. Also covers

• Demands that the target release prisoners, hostages, and any confiscated property.

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1054

Demand easing of economic sanctions, boycott, or embargo CAMEO 1054, “Demand easing of economic sanctions, boycott, or embargo”: require, demand that the target lifts or eases economic sanctions, boycott, or embargo. Does not cover

• Use only for economic sanctions, boycotts or embargoes; administrative restrictions are 1051.

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1055

Demand to allow international involvement (non-mediation) CAMEO 1055, “Demand to allow international involvement (non-mediation)”: require, demand that the target allow access to international actors, such as observers, humanitarian agencies, and peacekeeping forces. Does not cover

• Demands for adversaries to allow MEDIATION are 108.

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1056

Demand de-escalation of military engagement CAMEO 1056, “Demand de-escalation of military engagement”: require, demand that the target stops fighting or takes measures to ease military conflict or tension. Also covers

• Demands for ceasefires, military withdrawals, and demobilization.

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11 · DISAPPROVE

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11

DISAPPROVE CAMEO cue category 11, DISAPPROVE. Official residual 110 “Disapprove, not specified below”: express disapprovals, objections, and complaints not otherwise specified. Disapprovals are typically verbal events. Also covers

• PREFER THIS BARE ROOT OVER 110. 11 and 110 are the identical “family but no leaf” answer; there is no article-decidable difference. When no leaf fits, emit 11 and never 110.
• Use only when distinctions among codes 111-116 cannot be made — this is a residual category.

goldstein_scale -2

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110

Disapprove, not specified below CAMEO 110, “Disapprove, not specified below”: express disapprovals, objections, and complaints not otherwise specified. Disapprovals are typically verbal events. Does not cover

• Residual: CAMEO does not code 110 except when the distinctions among the more specific 111-116 codes cannot be made.
• SAME MEANING AS THE BARE ROOT 11. This taxonomy makes 2-digit roots assignable, so 11 and 110 denote the identical “family but no leaf” case. Prefer the bare root 11 when coding; 110 is carried because it is the official CAMEO spelling and so that a caller filtering on official CAMEO gets a valid subcategory rather than a 400.

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111

Criticize or denounce Criticize or denounce: condemn, decry a policy or an action; criticize, defame, denigrate responsible parties. Also covers

• a same-day public statement by a qualifying official actor criticizing another country or actor is code 111 (criticize/denounce) targeting that country when the statement itself is the article’s concrete news event

Does not cover

• ★ 111 vs 12x — 111 is a JUDGEMENT on something already done or said; 12x is a REFUSAL of something asked of the source. If the article contains a request, offer or proposal that the source turned down, it is 12x however harsh the language.
• ★ 111 vs 13x — 111 looks BACKWARD at conduct; 13x looks FORWARD and names a consequence the source may inflict. “Condemned the strike” is 111; “warned there will be consequences” is 13x.
• 111 vs 161 — condemning a country is 111; actually recalling an envoy, cancelling a summit or downgrading ties is 161, even when the article frames it as a protest.
• A specific allegation of wrongdoing charged against the target → 112 and its sub-codes.
• A written, institutionalized protest or formal petition → 114.

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112

Accuse Accuse, not specified below: charge, blame, incriminate for allegations not otherwise specified. Events coded under 112 are allegations made by actors and do not in any way imply that the alleged events have taken place. Also covers

• CODE THE BARE 112 ONLY WHEN THE ARTICLE DOES NOT SAY WHAT THE TARGET IS ACCUSED OF. If it names the charge, use the child: theft/bribery/fraud/corruption → 1121; torture, arbitrary detention, abuse of civilians → 1122; starting hostilities, ceasefire violation, unjustified military action → 1123; war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide → 1124; spying, espionage, treason → 1125.

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113

Rally opposition against Rally opposition against: mobilize other parties against the target. Typically, although not exclusively, a verbal act. Use it where one party (the source) solicits third parties to express disapproval of, protest against, or punish another party (the target). Does not cover

• Only DIPLOMATIC solicitations are coded here — military mobilizations are not.

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114

Complain officially Complain officially: written and institutionalized protests, appeals, and all petition drives and recalls.

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115

Bring lawsuit against Bring lawsuit against: sue, file a civil or criminal lawsuit at a domestic or international court. The source must be the plaintiff or the state, and the target must be the defendant.

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116

Find guilty or liable Find guilty or liable (legally): find guilty or liable at a court of law. The source must be the court in question, domestic or international, and the target must be the defendant. Refers typically to rulings against non-individuals, where imprisonment is not an issue. Does not cover

• When individuals are found guilty and are therefore detained → 173 (arrest/detain), which this repo routes to ACLED.
• The filing of the suit rather than the ruling → 115.

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1121

Crime/corruption Accuse of crime, corruption: allege, charge the target with, or blame for engaging in crime or corruption.

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1122

Human rights abuses Accuse of human rights abuses: allege, charge the target with, or blame for human rights violations, such as arbitrary detentions for prosecutions, torture, and slavery.

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1123

Aggression Accuse of aggression: allege, charge the target with, or blame for initiating hostilities or engaging in questionable or unjustifiable military actions, such as violations of a ceasefire. Does not cover

• If the military action alleged relates to human rights abuses (1122) or war crimes (1124), use those codes instead.

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1124

War crimes Accuse of war crimes: allege, charge the target with, or blame for participation in war crimes.

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1125

Espionage/treason Accuse of espionage, treason: allege, charge the target with, or blame for spying, espionage, or treason.

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12 · REJECT

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12

REJECT CAMEO cue category 12, REJECT. Official residual 120 “Reject, not specified below”: all rejections and refusals not otherwise specified. All rejections coded in this category should imply refusals to cooperate or to yield in some way. Also covers

• PREFER THIS BARE ROOT OVER 120. 12 and 120 are the identical “family but no leaf” answer; there is no article-decidable difference. When no leaf fits, emit 12 and never 120.
• Use only when distinctions among codes 121-129 cannot be made — this is a residual category.

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120

Reject, not specified below CAMEO 120, “Reject, not specified below”: all rejections and refusals not otherwise specified. Also covers

• All rejections coded in this category should imply refusals to cooperate or to yield in some way.

Does not cover

• Residual: CAMEO does not code 120 except when the distinctions among the more specific 121-129 codes cannot be made.
• SAME MEANING AS THE BARE ROOT 12. This taxonomy makes 2-digit roots assignable, so 12 and 120 denote the identical “family but no leaf” case. Prefer the bare root 12 when coding; 120 is carried because it is the official CAMEO spelling and so that a caller filtering on official CAMEO gets a valid subcategory rather than a 400.

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121

Reject material cooperation Reject material cooperation, not specified below: refuse to engage in or expand material exchange. Also covers

• Official sub-categories are 1211 economic, 1212 military, 1213 judicial, 1214 intelligence — all four are carried; use them whenever the article names the domain, and code the bare 121 only when it does not.

Does not cover

• Refusals to provide unilateral material assistance — not mutual exchange — → 122.
• Note the difference between refusing to ESTABLISH or EXPAND material cooperation (121) and REDUCING or ELIMINATING existing ties (category 16).

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122

Reject request for aid Reject request or demand for material aid, not specified below: refuse to extend material aid not otherwise specified. Also covers

• Official sub-categories are 1221 economic aid, 1222 military aid, 1223 humanitarian aid, 1224 military protection or peacekeeping — all four are carried; use them whenever the article names the kind of aid refused, and code the bare 122 only when it does not.

Does not cover

• Refusing to grant humanitarian agencies ACCESS, rather than refusing to provide assistance oneself → 1245.

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123

Reject political reform request Reject request or demand for political reform, not specified below: refuse to institute political change not otherwise specified. Also covers

• Actors requesting the reform, or those (the country or the people) affected by the rejection, are coded as target depending on what the lead supports.
• Official sub-categories are 1231 change leadership, 1232 change policy, 1233 rights, 1234 change in institutions/regime — all four are carried; use them whenever the article names the reform refused, and code the bare 123 only when it does not.

Does not cover

• If the reform refused clearly constitutes a concession or yielding by the source — such as easing administrative sanctions already in place — a code under 124 is more appropriate.

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124

Refuse to yield Refuse to yield, not specified below: reject requests, refuse, or decline to yield not otherwise specified. Also covers

• Official sub-categories are 1241 ease administrative sanctions, 1242 ease popular dissent, 1243 release persons or property, 1244 ease economic sanctions, 1245 allow international involvement, 1246 de-escalate military engagement — all six are carried; use them whenever the article names which concession is refused, and code the bare 124 only when it does not.

Does not cover

• Refusals to give up POWER are coded at 1231, not under 124.

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125

Reject proposal to meet/negotiate (-5.0) Reject proposal to meet, discuss, negotiate: refuse to meet, discuss, or negotiate. Does not cover

• Specific refusals to accept the involvement of mediators, or refusals to meet WITH mediators → 126.

goldstein_scale -5

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126

Reject mediation (-5.0) Reject mediation: refuse the involvement of mediators or mediation initiatives. The target should be the potential mediators. goldstein_scale -5

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127

Reject settlement plan (-5.0) Reject plan, agreement to settle dispute: reject a proposal or request for a final, comprehensive settlement, peace proposal, or resolution. Refers typically, although not exclusively, to written and/or formal proposals of comprehensive settlement that seek to resolve a conflict. Also covers

• The target should be the opponent with whom the source is involved in the conflict.

goldstein_scale -5

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128

Defy norms/law (-5.0) Defy norms, law: disobey, challenge, or resist laws or norms. This category covers both civilian disobedience and official defiance. goldstein_scale -5

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129

Veto (-5.0) Veto: refuse to assent to, or formally reject, a legislative proposal, recommendation, or resolution. goldstein_scale -5

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1211

Reject economic cooperation CAMEO 1211, “Reject economic cooperation”: refuse to engage in or expand economic ties. Also covers

• Rejections of mutual economic exchange, such as trade and investment.

Does not cover

• Refusing to PROVIDE financial aid, or to cancel debt, is 1221.

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1212

Reject military cooperation CAMEO 1212, “Reject military cooperation”: refuse to engage in or expand military ties. Also covers

• Rejections of mutual military exchange.

Does not cover

• Refusing to PROVIDE military aid is 1222.

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1213

Reject judicial cooperation CAMEO 1213, “Reject judicial cooperation”: refuse to engage in or expand cooperation in judicial matters. Also covers

• Use when the source actor refuses to cooperate in extraditions or other matters pertaining to legal proceedings.
• ★ REAL CODE, ABSENT FROM THE APPENDIX. 1213 and 1214 carry full Name/Description/Usage Notes/Example entries in CAMEO 0.9b6 and 1.1b3 § 2.12, but BOTH codebooks omit them from their chapter-6 code list — and GDELT’s cameo.csv, derived from that list, omits them too. The prose is authoritative; the appendix has a gap.

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1214

Reject intelligence cooperation CAMEO 1214, “Reject intelligence cooperation”: refuse to engage in or expand cooperation in intelligence or information sharing. Also covers

• Use when the source actor refuses to investigate or to share information.
• See 1213 on why this code is absent from the codebooks’ own appendix list.

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1221

Reject request for economic aid CAMEO 1221, “Reject request for economic aid”: refuse to extend financial assistance.

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1222

Reject request for military aid CAMEO 1222, “Reject request for military aid”: refuse to extend military assistance.

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1223

Reject request for humanitarian aid CAMEO 1223, “Reject request for humanitarian aid”: refuse to extend humanitarian assistance. Also covers

• Refusals to provide shelter or refuge are coded here.

Does not cover

• When the source refuses to grant humanitarian agencies ACCESS, rather than refusing to provide assistance itself, use 1245.

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1224

Reject request for military protection or peacekeeping CAMEO 1224, “Reject request for military protection or peacekeeping”: refuse to provide peacekeeping forces or another form of military protection. Also covers

• Refusals by PROSPECTIVE PROVIDERS of protection and peacekeeping.

Does not cover

• Refusals by ADVERSARIES to grant access to peacekeepers are 1245.

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1231

Reject request to change leadership CAMEO 1231, “Reject request to change leadership”: refuse to change leadership or relinquish power. Also covers

• Rejections of demands to resign or hand over power, and to hold elections that might open the way for a change in leadership.
• While refusals to undertake other forms of yielding are 124x, a refusal to GIVE UP POWER is coded here.

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1232

Reject request to change policy CAMEO 1232, “Reject request to change policy”: refuse to change a given policy. Also covers

• Refusals to acquiesce to demands for policy change — political, economic, military, social, or otherwise.

Does not cover

• If the policy change in question clearly represents a form of yielding, the appropriate 124x code is used instead.

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1233

Reject request for rights CAMEO 1233, “Reject request for rights”: refuse to provide or respect social, political, economic or other rights and freedoms. Does not cover

• If by rejecting certain rights the source is in fact refusing to yield or concede, the event may be better coded under 124x.

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1234

Reject request for change in institutions, regime CAMEO 1234, “Reject request for change in institutions, regime”: refuse to make fundamental political changes, such as moving from one type of political system to another and reforming political institutions or key laws. Does not cover

• Note the difference between institutional/regime change and ordinary POLICY reform (1232).

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1241

Refuse to ease administrative sanctions Refuse to ease ADMINISTRATIVE sanctions: reject requests, refuse or decline to ease administrative sanctions, such as censorship, curfew, state of emergency, and martial law. Does not cover

• Refusing to ease ECONOMIC sanctions, a boycott or an embargo is 1244 — never here. 1241 is ADMINISTRATIVE sanctions only (censorship, curfew, emergency, martial law).

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1242

Refuse to ease popular dissent CAMEO 1242, “Refuse to ease popular dissent”: reject requests, refuse, or decline to reduce or stop political protest activities, such as demonstrations and rallies. Also covers

• ★ NOTE THE DIRECTION, as with 082: this is a DISSENTING actor refusing to stand its own protest down, not a government refusing to relax restrictions on dissent (which is 1241).

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1243

Refuse to release persons Refuse to release persons or property: reject requests, refuse, or decline to release or return persons or property. Also covers

• Refusals to release or exchange prisoners and hostages, as well as to return previously confiscated property, are coded here.

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1244

Refuse to ease economic sanctions, boycott, or embargo CAMEO 1244, “Refuse to ease economic sanctions, boycott, or embargo”: reject requests, refuse, or decline to reduce or eliminate economic sanctions, boycotts, or embargoes. Does not cover

• Use only for economic sanctions, boycotts or embargoes; ADMINISTRATIVE sanctions are 1241.

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1245

Refuse to allow international involvement (non-mediation) CAMEO 1245, “Refuse to allow international involvement (non-mediation)”: reject requests, refuse or decline to allow access to international actors such as observers, humanitarian agencies, and peacekeeping forces. Also covers

• Prospective peacekeepers, observers, etc. are coded as the target.
• Refusing humanitarian agencies ACCESS is coded here, not 1223; and a refusal by an adversary to grant peacekeepers access is coded here, not 1224.

Does not cover

• Refusing MEDIATION is 126.

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1246

Refuse to de-escalate military engagement CAMEO 1246, “Refuse to de-escalate military engagement”: reject requests, refuse, or decline to stop fighting or take measures to ease military conflict or tension. Also covers

• Rejections of ceasefires, military withdrawals, and demobilization.

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13 · THREATEN

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13

THREATEN CAMEO cue category 13, THREATEN. Official residual 130 “Threaten, not specified below”: all threats, coercive or forceful warnings with serious potential repercussions, not otherwise specified. Threats are typically verbal acts. Also covers

• PREFER THIS BARE ROOT OVER 130. 13 and 130 are the identical “family but no leaf” answer; there is no article-decidable difference. When no leaf fits, emit 13 and never 130.
• FUTURE-TENSE RULE (official): when any conflictual behaviour is forecast using the future tense, it is treated as a threat — “will attack” is coded as “threaten to attack”.
• Use the bare root only when distinctions among codes 131-139 cannot be made.

Does not cover

• Do NOT downgrade a threat of force into 131 (which is threats of NON-force measures only), and do NOT code it as 172 (which is coercion ACTUALLY IMPOSED).
• More ACTIVE expressions of a threat to use force — moves that demonstrate capability rather than merely state intent → category 15.

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130

Threaten, not specified below CAMEO 130, “Threaten, not specified below”: all threats, coercive or forceful warnings with serious potential repercussions, not otherwise specified. Threats are typically verbal acts. Also covers

• FUTURE-TENSE RULE (official): when any conflictual behaviour is forecast using the future tense, it is treated as a threat — “will attack” is coded as “threaten to attack”.

Does not cover

• Residual: CAMEO does not code 130 except when the distinctions among the more specific 131-139 codes cannot be made.
• SAME MEANING AS THE BARE ROOT 13. This taxonomy makes 2-digit roots assignable, so 13 and 130 denote the identical “family but no leaf” case. Prefer the bare root 13 when coding; 130 is carried because it is the official CAMEO spelling and so that a caller filtering on official CAMEO gets a valid subcategory rather than a 400.
• Do NOT downgrade a threat of force into 131 (which is threats of NON-force measures only), and do NOT code it as 172 (which is coercion ACTUALLY IMPOSED).

​

131

Threaten non-force Threaten non-force, not specified below: all NON-FORCE threats not otherwise specified. A verbal act. Also covers

• CODE THE BARE 131 ONLY WHEN THE ARTICLE DOES NOT SAY WHICH NON-FORCE MEASURE IS THREATENED. If it names one, use the child: aid or funding cut → 1311; sanctions, boycott, embargo, tariffs, asset freeze → 1312; expelling diplomats, recalling an ambassador, severing or downgrading ties, quitting a treaty or body → 1313.

Does not cover

• ★ 131 IS NOT THE DEFAULT THREAT CODE. Its label reads as “a threat that is not forceful”; CAMEO means a threat OF NON-FORCE MEASURES, and the measure has to be economic, diplomatic or aid-related. If the article names no such measure, use the bare root 13 — not 131. If it threatens force, it is 138x.
• When non-force threats are ACTUALLY CARRIED OUT → codes 160-166.
• Threats of administrative sanctions, such as bans or curfews → 132.
• Any threat to use military force → 138 and its sub-codes.

​

132

Threaten administrative sanctions Threaten with administrative sanctions, not specified below: threaten to impose or expand NON-FORCE administrative restrictions and penalties not otherwise specified. Also covers

• CODE THE BARE 132 ONLY WHEN THE ARTICLE DOES NOT SAY WHICH ADMINISTRATIVE MEASURE IS THREATENED. If it names one, use the child: speech, press, assembly or protest restrictions → 1321; banning a party, movement or politician → 1322; curfew → 1323; state of emergency or martial law → 1324. 1321 and 1323 have NEVER been emitted in production, and the reason is that their labels (“Political freedoms”, “Curfew”) read as topic tags while the parent label reads as a threat — the parent is not more correct, it is merely better worded.

​

133

Threaten political dissent/protest Threaten political dissent: threaten to mobilize or engage in actions of political dissent — such as protest demonstrations, hunger strikes, strikes or boycotts, physical obstruction of buildings or areas, and riots. Does not cover

• Dissent actions actually carried out → category 14 (PROTEST), which this repo does not carry.

​

134

Threaten to halt negotiations Threaten to halt negotiations: threaten to break up or withdraw from a discussion, negotiation, or meeting. Typically presented as a protest against particular actions or policies of the target. Does not cover

• Negotiations actually halted → 164.
• ★ 134 REQUIRES THAT NO THIRD-PARTY BROKER IS NAMED. If the article calls the process mediation, or names a mediator, envoy, facilitator or broker working between the sides, the threat to quit is 135 instead — the same one-word test that governs 164 vs 165.

​

135

Threaten to halt mediation Threaten to halt mediation: threaten to stop mediation activities. A verbal act, covering threats by mediators or by adversaries to stop mediating or to stop engaging in mediated talks. Does not cover

• Mediation actually halted → 165.
• ★ 135 vs 134 — decidable on ONE WORD, and 135 has NEVER been emitted in production because nothing told the coder to look for it. If the article calls the process MEDIATION, or names a THIRD PARTY who is brokering between the two sides (a mediator, envoy, facilitator, broker, “talks brokered by X”), the threat to walk away is 135. Only two-party talks with no broker are 134.
• A threat to expel or pull out observers, inspectors, peacekeepers or aid agencies is 136, not 135.

​

136

Threaten to halt international involvement Threaten to halt international involvement (non-mediation): threaten to reduce or stop international intervention by expelling or withdrawing observers, humanitarian agencies, peacekeepers, etc. Also covers

• Both threats by international agencies to withdraw their involvement and threats by host countries to expel such actors are coded here.

Does not cover

• Mediation-related threats → 135.

​

137

Threaten with repression Threaten with repression: threaten dissidents with forcible subjugation. Threats to imprison, as well as threats to use force to clamp down on opposition activities, are coded here. Does not cover

• Repression of dissidents is different from the use of military force against another armed group — threats to use military force or to engage in battle → 138.

goldstein_scale -7

​

138

Threaten with military force Threaten with military force, not specified below: threaten to use force, not otherwise specified. A verbal act. Also covers

• CODE THE BARE 138 ONLY WHEN THE ARTICLE DOES NOT SAY WHAT KIND OF FORCE IS THREATENED. If it names one, use the child: blockade, closing a strait, sealing a border by force → 1381; occupying or seizing territory → 1382; terrorism, assassination, sabotage → 1383; strikes, missiles, air raids, invasion, “military action” → 1384; nuclear/chemical/biological/radiological weapons, OR mass expulsion, mass killing or ethnic cleansing → 1385.

Does not cover

• More ACTIVE expressions of a threat to use force — mobilization, alert status, demonstrations of military capability → category 15.
• Force actually used → categories 18/19/20 (ACLED scope in this repo).

goldstein_scale -7

​

139

Give ultimatum Give ultimatum: give a final warning, ultimate demand, or order — a final demand whose rejection carries the risk of some form of retaliation by the party issuing it. Typically a verbal act. Also covers

• OFFICIAL TEST IS TERMINOLOGICAL: “Use of this code depends primarily on the terminology used by reporters — look for the word ‘ultimatum’, otherwise, it is simply a threat.”

Does not cover

• DEFINITION MISMATCH, RESOLVED BY THE 10-20 MERGE — kept because the distinction is easy to lose: the authored definition this replaced defined 139 structurally, as “a demand with an explicit deadline and a stated consequence”. That is an authored test, not the official one. Official CAMEO keys 139 on the reporter’s WORDING; a deadline-plus-consequence demand that no source calls an ultimatum is an ordinary threat under 13x.

goldstein_scale -7

​

1311

Threaten to stop aid Threaten to reduce or stop aid: threaten to reduce or stop providing material aid — economic, military, humanitarian, or peacekeeping.

​

1312

Threaten to boycott/sanction Threaten to boycott, embargo, or sanction: threaten to restrict normal economic interactions by imposing sanctions, boycotts, or embargoes — restraints on commerce and similar transactions as a way to protest or punish the target. Does not cover

• Sanctions or an embargo ACTUALLY IMPOSED → 163.

​

1313

Threaten to break relations Threaten to reduce or break relations: threaten to reduce or formally sever ties. Also covers

• Non-force threats to declare independence, to resign, to withdraw diplomats, or to reduce or break diplomatic ties are all coded here.

​

1321

Political freedoms Threaten with restrictions on political freedoms: threaten to impose or expand restrictions on fundamental freedoms, such as freedom of speech, expression, and assembly. Does not cover

• If the threat indicates potential use of coercive REPRESSIVE tactics to enforce the restriction → 137.

​

1322

Ban parties Threaten to ban political parties or politicians: threaten to ban the political activities of particular parties or individuals. Does not cover

• If the target is being threatened with imprisonment or other measures of repression → 137.

​

1323

Curfew Threaten to impose curfew: threaten to enforce a deadline beyond which inhabitants of an area are not permitted to be on the streets or in public places.

​

1324

Emergency Threaten to impose state of emergency or martial law: threaten to suspend certain given rights, or the whole constitution, by imposing a state of emergency or military rule.

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1381

Threaten blockade Threaten blockade: threaten to prevent entry into and/or exit from a territory using military measures. Typically a verbal act.

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1382

Threaten occupation Threaten occupation: threaten to occupy, or to seize control of, the whole or part of a territory. Typically a verbal act. Does not cover

• Distinct from 192, which refers to military occupations that have been or are being carried out.

​

1383

Threaten unconventional violence Threaten unconventional attack (v1.1b3 name; v0.9b5 named it “Threaten unconventional violence”, which is the label political.ts carries): threaten to use unconventional violence, including terrorist activities. Typically a verbal act. Does not cover

• Distinct from unconventional attacks actually carried out → category 18.
• ★ 1383 vs 1385 — the discriminator is SCALE, stated in the text. A threat aimed at a person, a building or a unit (assassination, a bombing, sabotage, a terror attack) is 1383. A threat whose stated object is a POPULATION — nuclear/chemical/biological weapons, wiping out a city, mass expulsion, mass killing, ethnic cleansing — is 1385. No weapon of mass destruction needs to be mentioned for 1385.

​

1384

Threaten conventional attack Threaten conventional attack: threaten to attack, or to use conventional weapons against, a party. Typically a verbal act.

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1385

Threaten unconventional mass violence Threaten unconventional mass violence (the v1.1b3 name, which political.ts carries as of 2026-08-07; v0.9b5 named it “Threaten attack with WMD”, retired here because that name dropped the mass-atrocity half): threaten to use force potentially affecting large masses of people — including the use of weapons of mass destruction (nuclear or chemical-biological-radiological attacks), mass expulsions or killings, and ethnic cleansing. Use for threats to carry out actions best represented in cue category 20. Also covers

• WMD is only one arm of this code. A threatened mass expulsion, mass killing or ethnic cleansing with no weapon of mass destruction anywhere in the story is squarely a 1385.

Does not cover

• Distinct from mass violence actually carried out → category 20 (ACLED scope in this repo).
• A threat of unconventional violence that is NOT mass in scale — terrorism, assassination → 1383.

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15 · EXHIBIT FORCE POSTURE

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15

EXHIBIT FORCE POSTURE CAMEO cue category 15, EXHIBIT FORCE POSTURE (the v0.9b5 name, which political.ts carries; v1.1b3 renamed it EXHIBIT MILITARY POSTURE). Official residual 150: all military or police moves that fall short of the actual use of force, not otherwise specified. Also covers

• PREFER THIS BARE ROOT OVER 150. 15 and 150 are the identical “family but no leaf” answer; there is no article-decidable difference. When no leaf fits, emit 15 and never 150.
• Source actors for codes 150-153 need not be state-affiliated militaries — any organized armed group qualifies. The target is the actor against whom the source mobilizes its capabilities in a threatening manner.

Does not cover

• Distinct from categories 18, 19 and 20, which refer to USES of force; posturing falls short of actual use and is typically a demonstration of capability and readiness.
• Distinct from category 13, which is merely a threat, is typically verbal, and involves no activity undertaken to demonstrate military power.

goldstein_scale -7.2

​

150

Demonstrate military or police power Exhibit/demonstrate military or police power, not specified below: all military or police moves that fall short of the actual use of force, not otherwise specified — typically a demonstration of military capabilities and readiness. Does not cover

• SAME MEANING AS THE BARE ROOT 15. There is no article-decidable difference between them; the tie is broken by convention — ALWAYS EMIT 15, NEVER 150. 150 is carried only so a caller filtering on official CAMEO gets a valid subcategory rather than a 400.
• A move that names WHAT was raised or mobilized is never 150: police alert 151, military alert 152, more police 153, more troops 154, cyber-forces 155.
• Actual use of force → categories 18, 19, 20.
• A purely verbal threat with no accompanying demonstration of power → category 13.

​

151

Increase police alert status Increase police alert status. NOTE — THE OFFICIAL CODEBOOK DOES NOT DEFINE THIS CODE: in CAMEO v1.1b3 §2.15 the Description field reads “Need new description.”, the Usage Notes read “Need new usage notes.”, and the Example reads “NEED EXAMPLE.” The official name above is the only authoritative text. Nothing further has been invented; the only binding guidance is the inherited category-15 rule that the move must fall short of the actual use of force, and the parallel with 152 (increase military alert status), whose official description is “heighten readiness and caution; be prepared to use force.” Does not cover

• Military rather than police alert status → 152.
• Mobilizing or increasing police NUMBERS rather than raising alert status → 153.

​

152

Increase military alert status Increase military alert status: heighten military readiness and caution; be prepared to use force. Use for formal military orders to go on alert. The party against whom the military move is directed is the target actor. Does not cover

• Police rather than military alert status → 151.
• Force NUMBERS increased, troops deployed or called up, rather than a readiness level raised → 154.

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153

Mobilize/increase police power Mobilize or increase police power: mobilize police power to demonstrate strength, mostly as a scare tactic. NOTE — the official codebook’s Description field for 153 reads “Increase the number of military personnel and/or weapons”, which is verbatim the description it also gives for 154 and appears to be a copy-paste error; the definition above is taken from 153’s own Usage Notes, which are the only text that actually distinguishes it from 154. Does not cover

• ★ ROOT 15 IS A 2x2 GRID, and both axes are stated in the article. WHO: police/gendarmerie/interior forces → 151/153; army/navy/air force/armed groups → 152/154. WHAT: a READINESS LEVEL raised, put on alert, alert status → 151/152; NUMBERS moved, deployed, called up, reinforced, more personnel or weapons → 153/154. Police + numbers is 153, which is this code.
• Armed forces rather than police → 154.
• A police ALERT LEVEL raised, rather than police numbers increased → 151.

​

154

Mobilize/increase armed forces Mobilize or increase armed forces: increase the number of military personnel and/or weapons. The party against whom the military move is directed is the target actor. Does not cover

• Police rather than armed forces → 153.
• ★ ROOT 15 IS A 2x2 GRID, and both axes are stated in the article. WHO: police/gendarmerie/interior forces → 151/153; army/navy/air force/armed groups → 152/154. WHAT: a READINESS LEVEL raised, put on alert, alert status → 151/152; NUMBERS moved, deployed, called up, reinforced, more personnel or weapons → 153/154. Armed forces + numbers is 154, which is this code.
• A military ALERT STATUS raised, rather than force numbers increased → 152. A show of force with neither an alert level nor a troop count in the text — a flypast, a port call, a missile test, an exercise staged at a border — is 150/15.

​

155

Mobilize or increase cyber-forces CAMEO 155, “Mobilize or increase cyber-forces”: increase the capacity to wage cyber-warfare. Added in CAMEO v1.1b3; it does not appear in v0.9b5/0.9b6. Also covers

• Can only be coded when the move is directed against a SPECIFIC target or targets, whether as an offensive or a defensive move.

Does not cover

• A cyberattack actually carried out is 176, not 155.
• Like the rest of category 15, this is posture — a demonstration of capability and readiness that falls short of the actual use of force.

​

16 · REDUCE RELATIONS

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16

REDUCE RELATIONS CAMEO cue category 16, REDUCE RELATIONS. Official residual 160 “Reduce relations, not specified below”: all reductions in normal, routine, or cooperative relations not otherwise specified. Also covers

• PREFER THIS BARE ROOT OVER 160. 16 and 160 are the identical “family but no leaf” answer; there is no article-decidable difference. When no leaf fits, emit 16 and never 160.
• Use only when distinctions among codes 161-166 cannot be made — this is a residual category.
• Category 16 is where NON-FORCE THREATS under 131 land once they are actually carried out.

​

160

Reduce relations, not specified below CAMEO 160, “Reduce relations, not specified below”: all reductions in normal, routine, or cooperative relations not otherwise specified. Also covers

• Category 16 is where NON-FORCE THREATS under 131 land once they are actually carried out.

Does not cover

• Residual: CAMEO does not code 160 except when the distinctions among the more specific 161-166 codes cannot be made.
• SAME MEANING AS THE BARE ROOT 16. This taxonomy makes 2-digit roots assignable, so 16 and 160 denote the identical “family but no leaf” case. Prefer the bare root 16 when coding; 160 is carried because it is the official CAMEO spelling and so that a caller filtering on official CAMEO gets a valid subcategory rather than a 400.

​

161

Reduce/break diplomatic relations (-4.0) Reduce or break diplomatic relations: curtail, decrease, break, or terminate diplomatic exchange. Also covers

• Cancellation of meetings, withdrawal or expulsion of DIPLOMATS, and termination of other diplomatic activities are coded here.

Does not cover

• Negotiations → 164, and mediation → 165, are excluded from this code.
• Expulsion of non-diplomats — peacekeepers, inspectors, aid agencies → 166; ordinary individuals → 174.
• ★ THE THREE-WAY EXPULSION TEST, decidable from WHO the article names. Diplomats, an ambassador, embassy or consular staff, a mission accredited to the state → 161. An ORGANISATION or its personnel — peacekeepers 1661, inspectors or observers 1662, aid agencies or NGOs 1663. Private individuals, migrants, journalists, a named person deported → 174.

goldstein_scale -4

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162

Reduce/stop aid (-5.6) Reduce or stop material aid, not specified below: reductions or terminations of aid not otherwise specified. Also covers

• Official sub-categories are 1621 economic assistance, 1622 military assistance, 1623 humanitarian assistance — all three are carried; use them whenever the article names the kind of assistance cut, and code the bare 162 only when it does not.

Does not cover

• When the aid PROVIDER is expelled or withdraws, rather than the aid merely being cut → 1663.

goldstein_scale -5.6

​

163

Impose embargo/sanctions (-8.0) Impose embargo, boycott, or sanctions: stop or restrict commercial or other material exchange as a form of protest or punishment. Also covers

• This is the ACTUALLY-IMPOSED counterpart of the 1312 threat; category 16 is where carried-out non-force threats land.

Does not cover

• Threatening sanctions → 1312.
• Easing sanctions → 085.
• Demanding sanctions be eased → 0254.

goldstein_scale -8

​

164

Halt negotiations (-7.0) Halt negotiations: terminate discussions or negotiations. Use for failed negotiations and walk-outs, as well as other disruptions of planned negotiations; the termination can be unilateral or bi/multi-lateral. Does not cover

• Threatening to halt negotiations → 134.
• ★ 164 REQUIRES THAT NO THIRD-PARTY BROKER IS NAMED. If the article calls the process mediation, or names a mediator, envoy, facilitator or broker, the collapse is 165 instead. This is the same one-word test as 134 vs 135, and it is decidable from the text every time.

goldstein_scale -7

​

165

Halt mediation (-6.5) Halt mediation: terminate mediation activities. The source is typically the mediating party or parties. Use for failed mediation activities. Does not cover

• Threatening to halt mediation → 135.

goldstein_scale -6.5

​

166

Expel/withdraw Expel or withdraw, not specified below: terminate the presence of GROUPS OR ORGANIZATIONS, not otherwise specified. Covers both expulsions by host authorities and withdrawals by the guest group or organization. Also covers

• ★ CODE THE BARE 166 ONLY WHEN THE ARTICLE DOES NOT IDENTIFY WHO WAS EXPELLED OR WITHDRAWN. If it names them, use the child: peacekeepers, a peacekeeping mission, a stabilisation force, blue helmets → 1661; inspectors, monitors, observers, a verification or election-monitoring mission, IAEA/OPCW staff → 1662; aid agencies, NGOs, relief organisations, humanitarian staff, MSF/ICRC/WFP → 1663.
• Measured 2026-08: 166 held 236 events while 1661 and 1662 held ZERO and 1663 held 3. Nothing about the world produces that distribution — the parent was absorbing named cases because its label is the only one in the group that says what the act is.

Does not cover

• Expulsions or deportations of INDIVIDUALS — typically a legal matter → 174.
• Mass expulsions of peoples → 201.
• Withdrawal of hostile military forces, which constitutes a form of yielding → 0874.
• When DIPLOMATS are withdrawn or expelled → 161.

​

1621

Reduce or stop economic assistance CAMEO 1621, “Reduce or stop economic assistance”: decrease or terminate provision of economic aid. Does not cover

• When the aid PROVIDER is expelled or withdraws, rather than the aid merely being cut, use 1663.

​

1622

Reduce or stop military assistance CAMEO 1622, “Reduce or stop military assistance”: decrease or terminate provision of military aid. Does not cover

• When the aid PROVIDER is expelled or withdraws, rather than the aid merely being cut, use 1663.

​

1623

Reduce or stop humanitarian assistance CAMEO 1623, “Reduce or stop humanitarian assistance”: decrease or terminate provision of humanitarian aid. Does not cover

• When the aid PROVIDER is expelled or withdraws, rather than the aid merely being cut, use 1663.

​

1661

Expel or withdraw peacekeepers Expel or withdraw peacekeepers: terminate the deployment or presence of peacekeeping forces. Covers both expulsion by the host country and voluntary withdrawal by the actor providing the forces. Also covers

• Source-actor rule: the HOST country is the source when coding an expulsion; the PROVIDER of the forces is the source when coding a withdrawal.

​

1662

Expel or withdraw inspectors Expel or withdraw inspectors, observers: terminate the presence of inspectors or other observers. Covers both expulsion by the host country and withdrawal by the provider of the inspectors or observers. Also covers

• Observers — election monitors, ceasefire monitors — are covered alongside inspectors; the official name is “Expel or withdraw inspectors, observers”.

​

1663

Expel or withdraw aid agencies Expel or withdraw aid agencies: terminate the presence of aid agencies or other non-governmental organizations helping civilians. Covers both expulsion by the host country and withdrawal by the provider of humanitarian aid. Does not cover

• When aid is simply reduced or halted but no expulsion or withdrawal of the provider is mentioned → 1623.

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17 · COERCE

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17

COERCE CAMEO cue category 17, COERCE. Official residual 170 “Coerce, not specified below”: repression, violence against civilians, or against their rights or properties, not otherwise specified. CAMEO does NOT scope this root to non-violent acts — 171 and its sub-forms are officially USES OF FORCE against property, and this taxonomy carries them. What this taxonomy narrows is which sub-codes it carries, not what the root means: the sub-codes that coerce PERSONS are routed to the ACLED pipeline (see excludes) and cannot be coded here. Also covers

• PREFER THIS BARE ROOT OVER 170. 17 and 170 are the identical “family but no leaf” answer; there is no article-decidable difference. When no leaf fits, emit 17 and never 170.
• Carried here: 171/1711/1712 (force against property), 172 with 1721-1724 (administrative sanctions), and 174 (expel or deport individuals).
• Seizing, confiscating or destroying property IS root 17 even though CAMEO calls it a use of force. Do not steer it away from this root on the grounds that root 17 is “non-violent” — it is not, and 171x carries the taxonomy’s most conflictual Goldstein anchor (-9.2).

Does not cover

• Exclude code 173 (arrest/detain) → ACLED.
• Exclude code 175 (violent repression) → ACLED.

​

170

Coerce, not specified below CAMEO 170, “Coerce, not specified below”: repression, violence against civilians, or their rights or properties, not otherwise specified. The official codebook supplies no Usage Notes for this code. Does not cover

• SAME MEANING AS THE BARE ROOT 17. This taxonomy makes 2-digit roots assignable, so 17 and 170 denote the identical “family but no leaf” case. Prefer the bare root 17 when coding; 170 is carried because it is the official CAMEO spelling and so that a caller filtering on official CAMEO gets a valid subcategory rather than a 400.
• The sub-codes that coerce PERSONS — 173 (arrest/detain) and 175 (violent repression) — are routed to the ACLED pipeline and are not coded here. Do not reach for 170 as a way to code them.

​

171

Seize or damage property (-9.2) Seize or damage property, not specified below: USE OF FORCE against property, or violation of property rights, not otherwise specified. Also covers

• CODE THE BARE 171 ONLY WHEN THE ARTICLE DOES NOT SAY WHETHER THE PROPERTY WAS TAKEN OR WRECKED. Taken, held, seized, confiscated, expropriated, nationalized, frozen, looted → 1711. Destroyed, demolished, burned, razed, blown up → 1712.

goldstein_scale -9.2

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172

Impose administrative sanctions (-5.0) Impose administrative sanctions, not specified below: formal decrees, laws, or policies aimed at CURBING THE RIGHTS OF CIVILIANS, not otherwise specified. Also covers

• CODE THE BARE 172 ONLY WHEN THE ARTICLE DOES NOT SAY WHICH RESTRICTION WAS IMPOSED. If it names one, use the child: speech, press, internet, assembly or protest restrictions → 1721; banning a party, movement or politician → 1722; curfew → 1723; state of emergency or martial law → 1724. Measured 2026-08: 172 carried 2,622 events against 226 across all four children combined, which is a wording artefact and not a real distribution.
• Non-violent coercion ACTUALLY IMPOSED. If it is only THREATENED, use 13x instead (132 for administrative measures).

Does not cover

• ★ 172 vs 163 — the shared word “sanctions” is not the discriminator. 172 restricts what PEOPLE MAY DO (speech, assembly, movement, party activity). 163 restricts what may be TRADED, SHIPPED, SOLD or BANKED. An asset freeze, an export ban or a designation of a firm or an individual under a sanctions programme is 163, never 172.
• ★ 172 vs 170/17 — 172 requires a NAMED formal instrument (a decree, law, order, regulation or ban) actually curbing civil rights. Coercion with no such instrument in the text is the bare root 17, not 172.
• SCOPE NOTE: official 172 is specifically about decrees curbing CIVILIANS’ RIGHTS, not administrative measures in general. A regulatory or licensing action that does not curb civil rights is not a 172.

goldstein_scale -5

​

174

Expel or deport individuals (-5.0) Expel or deport individuals: formal removal or expulsion of INDIVIDUALS from a territory, typically following legal proceedings. Does not cover

• Expulsion of DIPLOMATS constitutes a reduction of diplomatic relations → 161.
• Expulsion of peacekeepers, inspectors, or aid agencies → category 166.
• MASS political expulsions, e.g. for the purpose of ethnic cleansing → 201.

goldstein_scale -5

​

176

Attack cybernetically CAMEO 176, “Attack cybernetically”: illegal or unauthorized attack on computers, networks, or accounts. Added in CAMEO v1.1b3; it does not appear in v0.9b5/0.9b6. Also covers

• Cyberattacks can be any of a wide range of acts, with an even wider range of motives. Vandalism of websites, theft of private electronic information, and the hostile shutting-down of networks all fit under this category.

Does not cover

• MERELY BUILDING CYBER CAPACITY against a named target is posture, not an attack — 155.
• ★ CROSS-DOMAIN BOUNDARY, READ BEFORE USING: CAMEO+ also carries TECHNOLOGY code TE03 CYBER EVENT (“large-scale attack, critical infrastructure breach, ransomware, zero-day exploit”), which covers the same real-world act. Use 176 only when the cluster is already POLITICAL — a state or named political actor coercing another through a cyberattack. A cyber incident routed to TECHNOLOGY is TE03 and must NOT be double-coded here.

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1711

Confiscate property Confiscate property: use force to take control of somebody else’s property — confiscate, expropriate. Raids and lootings are coded here alongside other confiscations.

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1712

Destroy property Destroy property: use force to destroy or demolish property.

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1721

Restrict political freedoms Impose restrictions on political freedoms: violate or impose limitations on fundamental political rights such as freedom of speech, expression, and assembly. Restrictions on the media and on activities of political dissent are coded here. Does not cover

• If the event is the actual ENFORCEMENT of such restrictions through repressive tactics — imprisonments, dispersal of demonstrations → 175 (ACLED scope in this repo).

​

1722

Ban political parties Ban political parties or politicians: prevent the establishment or the activities of political parties or politicians. Does not cover

• Threatening such a ban → 1322.

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1723

Impose curfew Impose curfew: set a deadline beyond which inhabitants of an area are not permitted to be on the streets or in public places. Does not cover

• Threatening a curfew → 1323.

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1724

Impose state of emergency/martial law Impose state of emergency or martial law: suspend normal constitutional rights and provisions by installing a state of emergency or military rule. Does not cover

• Threatening a state of emergency or martial law → 1324.