Political Protest and Policy Change: The Direct Impacts of Indian Anti-Privatization Mobilizations, 1990-2003

Abstract

This study explores the mechanisms of how social movements' activities influence public policy by focusing on the role of protest characteristics. By applying an event history analysis to the data on India's anti-privatization movement activity between 1990-2003, I demonstrate that favorable policy outcomes are more likely in cases where the movement uses large or economically disruptive protests. Although privatization policy is primarily dependent on the financial situation of the enterprise, protests against privatization had significant direct impact on policy. The results of this study allow for the argument that threatening rather than persuasive tactics offer an explanation of the direct impact of social movement actions.