Protest Movements and Political Change: A Framework for Analysis

Abstract

This article examines the complex relationship between protest movements and political change, utilizing a framework that explores factors contributing to their emergence, characteristics, and outcomes. Key elements include shared grievances and collective identity, resource mobilization, political opportunity structures, and framing and narrative. The article discusses how protest movements can lead to both revolutionary change, as seen in the Arab Spring uprisings, and incremental reforms, as illustrated by the Civil Rights Movement in the United States. It also examines the impact of state repression and counter-mobilization strategies, as well as the role of institutions and social networks in shaping the success of protest movements. The article concludes by emphasizing the enduring power of protest movements as a force for political change, highlighting the need for a nuanced understanding of their dynamics within specific political, social, and institutional contexts.