Economist Nick Papageorge challenges assumptions about protesters in BLM and anti-lockdown movements, revealing surprising overlaps. The discussion explores frustrations with government decision-making, trade-offs in public health, and the impact of protest movements on public opinion. It emphasizes the significance and agency of protesters, cautioning against dismissing them.
30% of protesters attended both BLM and anti-lockdown protests, revealing unexpected overlap.
Understanding protester diversity challenges stereotypes and enhances policy-making for social movements.
Deep dives
Key Findings in the Research on Protesters
The research focuses on the demographic and ideological characteristics of protesters in the BLM protests and anti-lockdown protests. Surprisingly, nearly 30% of protesters attended both types of protests, indicating significant overlap. The study revealed that these individuals were not counterprotesters but genuine participants. The findings challenged prior assumptions about the composition and motivations of protesters.
Impact of Protests on Policy and Public Opinion
Despite media caricatures, the research highlights the diversity among protesters and their representation of the public. The BLM protests influenced public opinion on police brutality and racial justice, leading to sustained effects on policy. In contrast, the anti-lockdown protests faced challenges in achieving their goals due to media portrayals. The study reflects on the significance of understanding protesters beyond stereotypes.
Trade-offs and Public Health Decisions
The discussion touches on the trade-offs in public health decision-making during the COVID-19 pandemic. Public health professionals faced challenges in balancing health risks with societal impacts. The conversation emphasizes the importance of considering multiple factors, such as fun, social behavior, and economic consequences, in policy-making. Acknowledging trade-offs remains essential in addressing complex public health issues.
Representation and Generalizability of Protest Findings
The podcast explores the representativeness of protest participants and the generalizability of research findings. The study's unique insights challenge assumptions about protesters and their motivations. While specific protests like BLM and anti-lockdown movements are analyzed, the broader application of findings to protests writ large remains subject to contextual variations. The conversation highlights the need to recognize nuances in protester demographics and motivations.
In 2020, two major protest movements defined our political landscape: the racial justice protests after the murder of George Floyd and the anti-lockdown protests pushing against COVID-19 restrictions. At the time, these movements were seen by many as near polar opposites and were often defined by their extremes.
But did the two actually have much in common?
Host Jerusalem Demsas talks to Nick Papageorge, an economist at Johns Hopkins University, who co-authored a paper called, “Who Protests, What Do They Protest, and Why?” His research calls into question our assumptions about the participants of mass protest. Are they really dominated by fringe elements? How can we tell? And what does it mean to misunderstand the people that make up social movements?
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