What makes mass protests successful in changing governments ?

What is it about?

When a government becomes too autocratic and restricts the civil liberties of a nation, people can resort to mass protests. But, can these protest movements change the ruling government? This study explores this question. Two specific protests are examined. The first is the Euromaidan movement in 2013-14, which was successful in toppling the existing regime. The second is the Belarusian protest of 2020, which failed to do so. Three conditions were found to be necessary for a successful protest. They should be supported by the western countries while also considering pro-Russian tendencies in the region. Second, the autocratic regimes should be weak. If the nation is a strong autocracy, peaceful protests are easily suppressed. Radical protests have a higher chance of succeeding and if they are suppressed, the movement gains more momentum with a greater participation. And third is the regional tendency. If the region consists of democratic nations, protests have a greater chance of succeeding.

Featured Image

Photo by Colin Lloyd on Unsplash

Photo by Colin Lloyd on Unsplash

Why is it important?

The present decade is a period of instability for the countries of Eastern Europe. Low incomes, and a lack of security, justice and freedom plague the countries. This has stirred mass protest movements in the region. It is necessary to understand what makes a protest successful in order to overthrow autocracies. And this has been explored through an analysis of the Euromaidan and the Belarusian protests. KEY TAKEAWAY: Factors that ensure the success of a protest are three-fold. Western and Russian influences are the first. Second are the challenges posed by autocratic strength. Finally, the varying regional tendencies, especially the level of democratization, are also a contributing factor.