Protest Effectiveness and Political Violence
đ„33% of mostly middle-aged, educated Democrats now agree political violence may be necessary to protect democracy, up from 8% in 2017, indicating growing frustration with electoral processes.
đ«Mass strikes and nonviolent civil disobedience are preferred over violence for effective protest against authoritarianism, but the presence of guns in the US raises concerns.
đPolitical violence supporters have shifted from historically right-leaning, young, male, and less educated to include more left-leaning individuals, according to pre-January 6 data.
Community Organizing and Solidarity
đ€The left's reliance on Zoom calls and online engagement has led to atomization, making it harder to build real-life connections and solidarity compared to right-wing groups' in-person events.
đïžLocal community organizing is key to effecting change, requiring only friends, neighbors, and community members to identify and build necessary changes that can work up to the federal level.
đSolidarity across identities, orientations, and social classes is crucial for building community infrastructure and bottom-up political movements, with unions and labor holding significant power.
Effective Activism Strategies
đąOutrage can mobilize people, but without organizational infrastructure like unions or churches, it lacks sustainability and strategic direction for lasting change.
đŹCommunity-based organizing focusing on specific local needs is more effective than top-down approaches or relying solely on national movements for creating lasting change.
đ„Loss aversion is a powerful motivator for political action, with people protesting when reliable services like checks or post offices shut down, directly affecting their lives.
Political Landscape and Power Dynamics
đ°Complacency and the influence of money in politics have eroded democracy, with the existence of billionaires as a whole undermining democratic processes.
đïžThe right has successfully built power by focusing on local and state-level organizing, modeling what they want to see nationally, a strategy the left needs to adopt.
Media and Information
đșResistance 2.0 sees the left merging and protesting daily in DC with thousands, but media coverage is lacking, potentially impacting public awareness and support.
Individual Action
đłïžTo reclaim power, individuals must become active political players rather than passive supporters, requiring more time and effort in local organizing and meetings.
đMisinformation and anti-science ideologies can hinder effective political action, but local organizing and connecting with those directly affected by issues can help counter these narratives.