Participation in (non)violent protests and associated psychosocial factors: sociodemographic status, civic engagement, and perceptions of government’s performance

Abstract

A national representative sample of adults is used to assess whether socioeconomic circumstances, civic engagement, and perceptions about government performance are associated with participation in (non)violent protests. Blacks and those who report high levels of poverty and civic engagement are likely to participate in non-violent protests. Individuals who have not completed schooling, are members of an organisation, view government as highly corrupt, and rate government’s service delivery very unfavourably are more likely to participate in violent protests than non-violent protests. The varying paths to protests including the psychosocial factors and motivational dynamics underlying individual’s participation in protests are discussed.