Deconstructed

Hijacked Hope: Why a Decade of Mass Protest Backfired

Oct 6, 2023

Vincent Bevins, veteran foreign correspondent and author of “If We Burn: The Mass Protest Decade and the Missing Revolution,” joins Ryan Grim to discuss the outcomes of global protests from 2010 to 2020. They explore the co-opting and repression of these movements, covering the Arab Spring, anti-austerity demonstrations in Brazil, and the hijacking of the Maidan uprising by the far right in Ukraine. They also examine the challenges of replicating successful protests, the divide between left and right in the Maidan uprising, and the power of viral videos in leaderless protests.

54:27

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Episode guests

Vincent Bevins

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Quick takeaways

The lack of organization and clear goals in mass protests can hinder their effectiveness and sustainability.

External actors can co-opt the narrative of mass protests, redirecting their focus and goals.

Organized movements with clear goals and strong leadership are crucial for achieving lasting and meaningful change.

Deep dives

The rise of mass protests in the 2010s

The decade from 2010 to 2020 saw a surge of mass protests globally, with more people taking to the streets than ever before. From the Arab Spring in 2011 to mass protests in Brazil, Chile, Ukraine, Hong Kong, and beyond, these movements aimed for change. However, many of these protests did not achieve their desired outcomes, leading to a reflection on the effectiveness of such movements.

Introduction

2min

The Free Fair Movement in Brazil and the Accidental Journalist

2min

The Lineage of the Anti-Globalization Movement

24min

The Challenges of Replicating Mass Protests

4min

The Divide Between the Left and Right in the Maidan Uprising

8min

The Influence of a Viral Video in Leaderless Protests

2min

The Rise of a Copycat Right-wing Group

13min

Discussion about the book 'If We Burn The Mass Protest Decade and The Missing Revolution'

2min

The 2010s bore witness to a decade of massive global protests, from the seismic events of the Arab Spring to the birth of Occupy Wall Street and the fervor of the Umbrella Movement in Hong Kong. But what tangible accomplishments emerged from these impassioned movements?

This week on Deconstructed, Ryan Grim is joined by Vincent Bevins, a veteran foreign correspondent and author of “If We Burn: The Mass Protest Decade and the Missing Revolution.” Bevins and Grim discuss the Arab Spring and the mass anti-austerity demonstrations in Brazil, and scrutinize the unsettling reality that, in numerous instances across various nations, conditions either stagnated or took a more repressive turn. Bevins details how more organized and, oftentimes, more authoritarian forces — ranging from organized groups to governments — were adept at harnessing the unrest, co-opting it, and ruthlessly quashing these burgeoning movements.

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Deconstructed

Hijacked Hope: Why a Decade of Mass Protest Backfired

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Deep dives

The rise of mass protests in the 2010s

The challenges of horizontalism and leaderlessness

The role of external influence and co-optation

Lessons learned and the need for organized movements

Rethinking the role of individualism and horizontalism

Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts