UNDERSTANDING PROTEST DYNAMICS: SOCIAL IDENTIFICATION, PERCEIVED INJUSTICE, ANGER AND DISOBEDIENT PROTEST IN THE CONTEXT OF THE AMELISWEERD MOVEMENT

Abstract

This study examines the influence of social identification, feelings of injustice, and anger on the willingness of individuals to engage in disobedient protest acts within the Amelisweerd movement. This research aims to replicate a pathway of the SIMCA model proposed by Van Zomeren et al. (2008), specifically focusing on the perceived injustice pathway and incorporating anger as an additional factor. This is done by using a survey study approach with a sample size of N=50, consisting of individuals aged 19 to 74 years. The results indicated a significant association between perceived injustice and willingness to participate in disobedient protest, supporting previous research on the link between perceived injustice and collective action. The study did not find significant associations between social identification and disobedient protest intentions, contrary to the SIMCA model's predictions. Furthermore, the study revealed that social identification indirectly predicted legal protest intentions through perceptions of unfair police treatment. Consequently, individuals who strongly identify with the movement may be motivated to engage in legal forms of collective action, considering the perceived past unfairness regarding the police. While this study has limitations, including a small sample size and low statistical power, it contributes to our understanding of the perceived injustice pathway in collective action and highlights the importance of addressing subgroup differences within the Amelisweerd movement. The findings suggest that appealing to perceptions of injustice can be a valuable strategy for motivating collective action, and future research should further investigate subgroup dynamics within the movement.