Do the people in office just get peer pressured into resigning or something?
In: 0
For most protests the answer is “they don’t (work).” For protests that do, we can think about them working in three different ways:
1. They bring attention to an issue that brings it to light, or forces public recognition, or makes it harder to ignore. This creates an environment where people with similar issues are more likely to speak up about their experiences, knowing that there are like minded people out there. Think: #MeToo
2. When the issue is severe enough and left ignore, the protests continue to grow, both in geography and intensity (both intensity of the protest and its response). If a protest threatens to spiral into general and wide spread chaos, a government would be motivated to address it in some fashion. Think: Civil Rights and Anti-War protests of the 60s and 70s.
3. If the protest is coupled with actual action that negative impacts a political or commercial organization, then they are encouraged to act in their self-interest by addressing the protest. Think: Montgomery Bus Boycott
The goal is to get people in power – be it social, commercial, or political – to enact changes desired by the protesters, not simply resignation.
Latest Answers