Opposition Movement and Groups 1789-2020: Introducing the OMG Dataset

• In Event: Opposition and Protest: Participation and Consequences

Abstract

In this paper, we introduce the Opposition Movement and Groups (OMG) dataset. OMG counts more than 100 variables and spans around 1500 mass mobilization movements that have appeared throughout modern history from 1789 to 2020, across more than 150 colonies and independent states. We believe that the stated goals, duration, size, tactics, ideology, and social and organizational composition of these mass mobilization movements are important features that have strongly influenced political and social life worldwide. Compiling extensive data on these features, across countries and extensive periods of time, is thus a crucial step when trying to systematically describe and understand politics and societies in the modern era. In the paper, we first elaborate on the motivations for collecting these data, before we describe relevant existing datasets and how our complement them. We thereafter detail the contents of the dataset and how it has been constructed. Next, we discuss validity and reliability aspects of key measures on movement goals, size, violent and nonviolent tactics, and their participating and dominating social groups. We thereafter use the new data to illustrate important historical patterns in the frequency and nature of mass mobilization movements in different world regions. First, we consider the relative frequency of (pre-dominantly) violent and nonviolent movements all the way back to 1789. Second, we display and discuss how the main stated goals of mass mobilization campaigns have shifted through time. Third, we map the dominating social group in mass mobilization movement across major geographical region and time, focusing on the rise of the urban middle classes as well as urban working classes from the 19th century onwards in Europe and later in other regions of the world.

Authors

• Marianne Dahl, PRIO / NTNU

• Sirianne Dahlum, University of Oslo

• Hanne Fjelde, Uppsala University

• Haakon Gjerløw, Peace Research Institute Oslo

• Carl Henrik Knutsen, Department of Political Science, University of Oslo

• Tore Wig, University of Oslo