The Dynamics of Protest Radicalization

Why do protests radicalize to violence? We develop a general theory of protest radicalization by adapting individual-level and group-based theories of collective action. We argue that the dynamics of mobilization have implications for protest radicalization. Protests are composed of individuals with heterogeneous cost-risk tolerances which influences their political participation. When moderate factions are present in sufficient numbers, they can limit the willingness of more radical participants to escalate protest tactics. Using a series of formal models, we derived testable hypotheses that we analyze using data provided by the Mass Mobilization Project. The results support our hypotheses

Criminology · Political economy · Political science · Radicalization · Sociology · Terrorism · Violent extremism · Law · Political theory and Gramsci