The Global Political Mobilization of the 2010s

The past decade witnessed a surge in political mobilization, with mass protests and left-leaning political campaigns gaining significant followings. However, despite the popularity of these movements, they have largely failed to bring about meaningful political change. Authors Anton Yeager and Vincent Bevins reflect on this trend, analyzing the factors that contributed to the rise of these movements and the challenges they faced. They highlight the importance of the 2008 financial crisis, the crisis of representation, and the unique mobilization strategies employed. They also discuss the limitations of these movements, which often lacked strong institutional foundations and struggled to extract long-term concessions from the ruling elite.