The activist’s dilemma: weighing the impact of disruptive protest

Join us for a virtual discussion of research exploring the effectiveness of disruptive protests. From motorway sit-ins to museum protests, disruptive protests are hard to ignore. One of the most high-profile groups behind these actions, the UK-based Just Stop Oil, have announced they’re “hanging up the hi-vis”, and stepping back from civil disobedience. The move has reignited a familiar question: do these tactics win public support—or provoke backlash? Social Change Lab invites you to a webinar to explore what the latest research tells us about the impact of disruptive protest, with insights from two new studies: Can disruptive protests influence political preferences? New analysis of polling data from the UK, Sweden, and Germany reveals that disruptive climate actions can shift public voting intention towards pro-climate political parties. How do different types of protest actions shape public opinion and media attention? This research explores how the disruptiveness of a protest and how clearly it connects to its cause (its internal logic) shape public reactions. Analysis of Just Stop Oil protests and two UK-based experiments found that disruptive actions with low action logic reduced support for the protest group - but often attracted more media coverage and donations, effectively energising a committed base. The event will also feature reflections from experts and practitioners working across activism and philanthropy. As many activists re-assess their next steps, this event offers fresh evidence and insights for those striving to build public support and political momentum for environmental and social change.