Our Work
We're tackling these complex questions around social movement impacts and success factors using a cluster-thinking approach, where we try approach our research question from many different angles. See our various workstreams below.
We compiled a literature review of existing sociological and political science literature on movement outcomes. We examined outcomes ranging from policy change, public opinion shifts, voting behaviour, public discourse, and corporate behaviour.
Social Change Lab has undertaken six months of research looking into the outcomes of protests and protest movements. In this report, we synthesise our research, which we conducted using various research methods, such as literature reviews, public opinion polling, expert interviews, policymaker interviews and a cost-effectiveness analysis. We focus specifically on examining the impact of protest movements on public opinion, policy change, public discourse and media coverage, voting behaviour, and corporate behaviour.
Protest Movements: How effective are they?
You can also read a Google Docs version here.
The reports below are individual research projects that make up our summary report, which contain further information on our specific methodologies.
We conducted 2 x 1,500 person longitudinal and nationally representative public opinion polls before and after a major animal advocacy campaign in the UK, organised by Animal Rebellion.
We've interviewed 12 academics and movement experts to elicit answers to questions that we believe are not yet answered in existing literature. Examples include:
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How important are external factors relative to a movement's own strategy and tactics?
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To what degree does existing literature generalise to other countries, issues or time periods?
See an analysis of our interviews here and our full summary notes of our conversations here.
We conducted 3x 2,000 person nationally representative public opinion polls before, during and after a major protest campaign in the UK, Just Stop Oil.
We interviewed 3 UK Civil Servants to understand the impact of protest movements on UK policymaking. We wanted to elicit questions such as
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What role do protest movements play in policymakers' perceptions of public opinion?
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Why do some social movements seem to be more successful in influencing policy?
See an analysis of our interviews here and our full summary notes of our conversations here.
We compiled a literature review of existing sociological and political science literature on success factors for protest movements. We examine work primarily looking at nonviolence, numbers, the radical flank effect, and external contextual factors.