Why do people protest? Six decades of research points to social connections over personal grievances
A comprehensive review of 60 years of research reveals that people who participate in protests are driven more by social connections and political interest than by personal grievances, anger, or mistrust of the government.
A comprehensive analysis of six decades of research on protest participation reveals that social connections and political interest, rather than personal grievances or distrust of the government, are the primary drivers of people joining marches and demonstrations. Published in Science Advances, the meta-analysis highlights that factors such as organizational memberships, digital media usage, and political ideology are key predictors of whether an individual will attend a protest.
Despite strong opinions on social issues, many people remain inactive, struggling to transition from passive agreement to active engagement in collective action. The research, conducted by Shelley Boulianne and Jennifer Earl, emphasizes the importance of social embeddedness and digital platforms in facilitating protest participation.
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