When actions speak louder than words: examining collective political protests in Central Asia. Issue 4 (6th June 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Achilov, Dilshod
• Is Part Of: Democratization. Volume 23:Issue 4(2016)
• Page Start: 699
• Page End: 722
• Publication Date: 2016-06-06
• Subjects: contentious politics -- collective action -- Kazakhstan -- the Kyrgyz Republic -- Central Asia; Democracy -- Periodicals; Economic history -- 1990- -- Periodicals; Democratization -- Periodicals; 321.8
• DOI: 10.1080/13510347.2015.1012504
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1351-0347

Abstract

Abstract : What explains the dynamics of contentious collective political action in post-Soviet Central Asia? How do post-Soviet Central Asian citizens negotiate the tensions between partaking in and abstaining from elite-challenging collective protests? By analysing cross-national attitudes in two Central Asian states, this article (1) systematically analyses the variation in collective protests by testing rival macro-, meso-, and micro-level theories; (2) reintroduces a conceptual and empirical distinction between low-risk and high-risk collective protests; and (3) examines the conditions under which individuals participate in two distinct types of elite-challenging collective actions. Three conclusions are reached. First, the evidence suggests that nuanced consideration of multi-level theoretical perspectives is necessary to explain contingencies of elite-challenging actions. Second, economic grievances and resource mobilization emerge as leading factors driving both low-risk and high-risk protests. Third, Islamic religiosity and social networking robustly predict participation in high-risk collective action.