By Emily Haines
There’s been a huge increase in the number of people protesting in Australia and across the world.
Research shows that the number of protests worldwide has more than tripled since 2006, with over 93% of the population participating in protests.
Many Australians have taken to the streets to advocate for some of our most pressing social issues –violence against women (Women’s March 4 Justice), racial inequality (Black Lives Matter), climate change.
Just earlier this month, almost 100,000 Australians joined a pro-Palestine march across the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
What is Protest?
Protest is one form of activism.
There are many other ways that people engage in activism: signing petitions, voting, donating money, lobbying political candidates, volunteering, posting on social media, expressing views in conversations with others.
Activism can also be more disruptive.
Some activists block public thoroughfares and infrastructure (e.g., roads, bridges or public transport routes), or participate in sit-ins inside government and corporate buildings.
All forms of activism are important. What matters is taking action in a way that is most meaningful and accessible to each individual.
Why is Activism Important?
Activism has been critical throughout history for social reform.
It is because of past activism that we have women’s voting rights, same-sex marriage, and the protection of the environment from pollution.
And it is activism which paves the way for future generations to enjoy rights and freedoms beyond those we possess today.
This speaks to the “power of the people” – when large groups of people engage in activism to support a particular social cause, this can place greater pressure on democratic authorities to respond to the cause.
For example, the sustained efforts and advocacy of the Pitjantjatjara and Yankunytjatjara peoples led to Don Dunstan and his government legislating for land rights, culminating in the Pitjantjatjara Land Rights Act in 1981.
As part of my PhD research in social psychology, I’m interested in what leads people to engage in activism.
What Drives Engagement in Activism?
Engaging in activism requires certain resources and opportunities.
People are more likely to engage when they have the time to volunteer, the transportation to attend a protest, the money to donate, or the internet access to post on social media.
People also need to be motivated at a psychological level.
Research shows that people are more likely to engage in activism when they:
- Belong to a group of like-minded individuals who share support for the social cause
- Feel angry or morally outraged over an injustice
- Believe that as a group they can make a difference and effect change
Yet working together with like-minded individuals for a social cause is not always straightforward – it often requires people from different backgrounds and perspectives to come together.
My PhD research is particularly interested in how people from different backgrounds and perspectives work through pre-existing divides to then engage in activism together.
For instance – under what conditions do Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and non-Indigenous people work through pre-existing divides and advocate together for racial justice?
Understanding these conditions can help to inform practical frameworks for engaging more diverse groups in activism to promote equality and justice.
What are Some Barriers to Activism?
People may steer clear of activism when they lack knowledge on an issue, don’t have access to certain resources and opportunities, or lack the psychological motivation to engage.
People may also fear penalties for engaging.
Australia has recently introduced stricter anti-protest laws, with SA having some of the toughest penalties for protestors including fines of up to $50,000 or a term of imprisonment for up to three months.
These changes are being seen as an attack on the right to protest – some of the main concerns are summarised by The Human Rights Law Centre in this report.
Yet not everyone views stricter laws as a deterrent – in this broadcast activists and researchers explain how penalising peaceful protests can encourage more disruptive or radical forms of activism.
In some cases, the more disruptive protests are more effective.
This article by The Australia Institute explores Australia’s proud tradition of impolite, inconvenient protest for worthy causes.
One example is the Aboriginal Tent Embassy – in 1972 First Nations men set up a permanent protest outside Parliament House that became a powerful and persistent catalyst for land rights, sovereignty and self-determination.
This reminds us that activism is important.
Activism today becomes the rights and freedoms of the next generation.
Emily Haines is a PhD student at Flinders University. She has written this article as part of an internship at the Don Dunstan Foundation.
Read more of our spotlight series here.
