Gen Z Protests + AI Safety Research: Social Change Lab Autumn Newsletter

This edition of the newsletter includes our commentary on the global wave of youth-led protests, new research on factory farming, and an invitation to a webinar exploring mobilisation challenges in the AI safety movement.

Image by हिमाल सुवेदी from Wikipedia Commons. Find the image here

Youth protests sweep the globe

The past few months have seen protests erupting across continents - from Bangladesh and Kenya to Nepal, Madagascar, and Morocco. While each movement has distinct demands - tackling corruption, economic inequality, or internet censorship - they share a common thread: a leading role for young people in countries where youth populations are growing.Our analysis of these movements was featured in 27 media outlets last week.

As we explained to ABC News: "What connects these youth-led protests is a shared sense that traditional political systems aren't responsive to their generation's concerns, whether that's corruption, climate change, or economic inequality. Protest then becomes the logical outlet when institutional channels feel blocked." 

Speaking to Associated Press, we discussed the central role of digital platforms, which are “powerful tools for information sharing and building connections, but the most effective movements often combine digital mobilization with traditional in-person organizing, as we've seen in these recent protests."

And as we told RTÉ, despite the power of youth movements, success isn't guaranteed: "Incumbent governments can be remarkably resilient in the face of prolonged protests, though often only for as long as they retain the support of security services. Taking the Arab Uprisings in 2011, regimes in Tunisia and Egypt fell only after security forces withdrew support."

Upcoming webinar: Is the AI safety movement ready?

Earlier this year, we released our report AI is on the March. Is the AI Safety Movement Ready?, which explored how civil society is mobilising through protest, education, and advocacy to address rapidly advancing AI risks. The report identified critical gaps in grassroots mobilisation and public voice.

If you'd like to hear more, report author Cathy Rogers will share key findings in a webinar on 19 November at 15:00 GMT. Register here.

This is the first in a series of talks hosted by the new Contentious Politics of AI network at the University of Birmingham.

Image by C.Suthorn / cc-by-sa-4.0 / commons.wikimedia.org Image available here

New research: Addressing the AI mobilisation gap

Our next project will assess the “mobilisation gap” around AI safety. Polls consistently show majorities in the UK and United States are concerned about AI and would support a pause on AI research. Yet the AI safety movement struggles to convert passive concern into active participation. 

We'll be running randomised control trials to understand which AI risk issues and messages are most effective at convincing people to take action and mobilise around AI safety. Want to shape the research? If you have suggestions for which risks and messages we should test, get in touch. 

The right to protest under pressure

Democratic backsliding and growing repression are limiting freedom of expression for protesters worldwide. Our Director Sam will be discussing this on Voice of Islam Radio this Sunday, 26 October, between 11:00 and 12:00 in a segment titled "The Right to Protest Under Sustained Pressure in the West." The discussion will explore the impact of tougher protest laws and policing in Western countries and insights on how movements are responding.

Climate mobilisations ahead of COP30

In September, 350.org coordinated 600+ actions across 85+ countries for their 'Draw the Line' mobilisations, “drawing an urgent line for life, for the people and for the planet” ahead of the UN Climate Summit in Brazil (COP30).

On 10 September, our Director joined a panel event ahead of these mobilisations, alongside Anne Jellema (Executive Director of 350.org), Chuck Collins (Patriotic Millionaires), and Brianna Fruean (Samoan climate activist). Watch the full event here.

New research on animal advocacy

We're pleased to have contributed a chapter to an upcoming book on the science and practice of animal and vegan advocacy. Our chapter focuses on the role of disruptive protests in the movement, exploring questions such as: What is the unique contribution of protest to societal change?, Who should protesters target? and, What issues and messages are most likely to resonate? If you would like a copy of the pre-print do get in touch.

We've also been conducting polling for a major new initiative committed to ending factory farming. We're supporting the group to assess public awareness of and attitudes toward common factory farming practices, gauge current support for a ban, and identify promising messaging strategies for target demographics. This will help establish a baseline for tracking their impact over time. If you'd benefit from similar research services, do reach out.

Try the Rebel's Notebook

Alongside the resources on our website, we wanted to highlight a great new tool: The Rebel's Notebook by Jasper Huitink. This toolkit analyses over 1,000 historical social movements to help activists choose the most effective tactics. It even includes a Method Recommender that provides personalised nonviolent action suggestions. Check it out!

Finally, a shout out to the Commons Social Change Library

Several of our reports are featured on the Commons Social Change Library, a fantastic repository of over 1,500 educational resources for activists covering campaign strategy, community organising, working effectively in groups, justice and diversity, and creative activism.

If you value this resource, please consider donating to support the Commons.Thanks for reading and for your ongoing support. We'll be in touch again soon with more updates on research, resources and events.

All the very best,

The Social Change Lab Team