Legitimacy of Authority and Protest Actions in Response to Collective Disadvantages

Jérôme Blondé,Juan Manuel Falomir Pichastor,Dimitrios Lampropoulos,Matthieu Vétois,Vincenzo Iacoviello

doi:10.1007/s11211-021-00374-z

Jérôme Blondé, Juan Manuel Falomir Pichastor + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1007/s11211-021-00374-z

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Abstract

A wealth of evidence has demonstrated that individuals’ participation in collective actions largely derives from perceived group disadvantages. In the present research, we hypothesized that engagement in protest activities can be attenuated if the disadvantages originate from legitimate figures of authority. Across three experiments based on vignettes describing a hypothetical work setting (total N = 670), we found consistent support for this prediction. In Study 1, we showed that intention to participate in a protest movement in reaction to an unfavourable distribution of outcomes was lower when legitimacy of the group’s authority was high (vs. low). In addition, a reduction in anger was found to play a mediating role. Studies 2 and 3 further demonstrated that these effects only occurred when participants were confronted with a relatively low disadvantage (as opposed to a high disadvantage). In an attempt to identify underlying mechanisms, Study 3 emphasized the moral implications that lie behind responses to high (vs. low) disadvantageous decisions and that shape resistance processes. Taken together, these findings call for more consideration for the role of group authorities in the comprehension of collective action tendencies and give insights to better understand how and when authority legitimacy can serve to perpetuate social disparities and hinders the fight against injustices.

Highlights

In response to the introduction of restrictive socio-economic policies and unpopular reforms, the number of massive protest movements around the world has risen dramatically in recent years (Ancelovici et al, 2016; Della Porta & Mattoni, 2014)
Consistent with H2, we found that high legitimacy reduced intention to take part in a collective action when group disadvantage was relatively low, but not when people faced high disadvantage
Consistent with H5, we found that low levels of disadvantage allow for legitimacy to reduce individuals’ desire to engage in a collective action, because it first reduced the overall perception that moral values are transgressed, which subsequently attenuated anger

Summary

Introduction

In response to the introduction of restrictive socio-economic policies and unpopular reforms, the number of massive protest movements around the world has risen dramatically in recent years (Ancelovici et al, 2016; Della Porta & Mattoni, 2014). The Declaration of the Occupation of New York City was presented as follows: “As we gather together in solidarity to express a feeling of mass injustice, we must not lose sight of what brought us together” (Occupy Wall Street, 2011). The mutualization of opposition forces and close cooperation between social actors in establishing collective protest movements (e.g. political marches, strikes, petitions) still remains a preferred modus operandi to redress for the disadvantages resulting from an unequal system and restore justice of the social order. We aimed to expand this research by investigating the effects of collective disadvantages on intention to engage in protest actions as a function of authority legitimacy

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