Explaining the Acceptance of Protest

• In Event: 503 - Section on Collective Behavior and Social Movements Paper Session. History and Social Movements

Abstract

This study uses GSS data to examine the public acceptance of protest. Using data from several time points between 1985 and 2006, we find that the public has grown more accepting of different types of protest with time. In addition, using the theoretical concepts of biographical availability, social networks, and political engagement as predictors, the analyses show who is more likely to accept different forms of protest: public meetings, marches and demonstrations, and a nationwide strike. We find that while these factors help explain support for protest in general, their effects vary depending on the type of protest. Whereas younger, more educated, male, Whites, and those who are more interested in political issues are more likely to accept public meetings, marches, and demonstrations than older, less educated, female, Blacks or others, and those who are less interested in political issues, as for a nationwide strike, younger, more educated, lower-income, male, Blacks and others, Democrats, and liberals are more likely to accept it than older, less educated, higher-income, female, Whites, Republicans, and conservatives. These findings suggest that individuals support protest to the extent that they see protest as a legitimate act, one that is supportive of (or at least not disruptive of) their social location. They also imply that “biographical availability” may be more complex a concept than what is suggested by extant treatments.

Authors

• Soon Seok Park, Purdue University

• Rachel L. Einwohner, Purdue University