"I went to the rally and it didn't work"; 13 reasons why people do and don't get involved in peace activism.

Winnifred Louis

School of Psychology, University of Queensland

Presentation to Just Peace, 11 November 2003, Brisbane.

Full talk here.

13 reasons why people drop out of peace activism

A. People change their mind

B. Motivation to act decreases

C. Tactical views change

A. People change their mind

1.Natural turnover: don’t panic

2.After a shake-up, return to baseline of friends and family

  • Recruit friends / groups

    3.Social groups bond internally and push apart externally

  • Higher-level / umbrella IDs really important – common values & goals

    4.Countermobilization of “new info” (e.g., Saddam’s mass graves).

  • Remobilize -> make the links

    5.Countermobilization vs dissent

  • Wider power struggle
  • Goal of having goals coopted

    B. Motivation to act decreases

    6.War ends, status quo becomes more tolerable

  • Focus on future, LT benefits vs short-term costs / present

    7.Responsibility decreases when Australia is out

  • Shared humanity vs indirect role

    8.Mainstream media agenda shifts

  • Alliances/e-networks, alt media.

    C. Tactical views change

    9.Unexpected barriers

  • Organization, information, planning

    10.Countermobilization vs tactic

  • Innovation, remobilization

    11.Protest “doesn’t work”

  • Careful about goal frame
  • Draw on value / IDs

    12.Protestors “not like me”.

  • balance needs to bond / challenge w/ creating a safe space for conservatives

    13.Cycle of frustration: burn-out.

  • permission to take breaks, job rotation

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