The Loud Minority, Daniel Q. Gillion
The Loud Minority, Daniel Q. Gillion
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The Loud Minority
Why Protests Matter in American Democracy

Author: Daniel Q. Gillion

Narrator: David Sadzin

Unabridged: 7 hr 39 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Kalorama

Published: 03/10/2020


Synopsis

The "silent majority"—a phrase coined by Richard Nixon in 1969 in response to Vietnam War protests and later used by Donald Trump as a campaign slogan—refers to the supposed wedge that exists between protestors in the street and the voters at home. The Loud Minority upends this view by demonstrating that voters are in fact directly informed and influenced by protest activism. Consequently, as protests grow in America, every facet of the electoral process is touched by this loud minority, benefiting the political party perceived to be the most supportive of the protestors' messaging.

Drawing on historical evidence, statistical data, and detailed interviews about protest activity since the 1960s, Daniel Gillion shows that electoral districts with protest activity are more likely to see increased voter turnout at the polls. Surprisingly, protest activities are also moneymaking endeavors for electoral politics, as voters donate more to political candidates who share the ideological leanings of activists. Finally, protests are a signal of political problems, encouraging experienced political challengers to run for office and hurting incumbents' chances of winning reelection.

An exploration of how protests affect voter behavior and warn of future electoral changes, The Loud Minority looks at the many ways that activism can shape democracy.


About Daniel Q. Gillion

Daniel Q. Gillion is the Julie Beren Platt and Marc E. Platt Presidential Professor of Political Science at the University of Pennsylvania. He is the author of The Political Power of Protest and Governing with Words.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Jacopo on May 30, 2020

Do protests matter? Do they have the power to sway elections? A more pressing question might be whether they still matter when COVID-19 and social distancing renders such public displays unsafe. 'The Loud Minority' by Dr. Daniel Q. Gillion presents such a convincing analysis of protest movements and......more

Goodreads review by Alex on June 28, 2020

Solids, quick read that protests aren’t alternatives to democratic process, but work through the democratic process (increase fundraising on issues, increase candidates who focus on those issues, increase voters who vote on those issues). Would be better as journal article for those not focused on s......more

Goodreads review by Karen on January 01, 2021

This slim book has some useful insights into the power of protest. I wished there were more time spent on the excellent data presented.......more

Goodreads review by Martha on May 18, 2020

This book is fantastic. Such an interesting and informative read.......more

Goodreads review by Josh on March 28, 2021

This book pairs well with Tufekci's Twitter and Tear Gas in that it complements it while contradicting parts of it. Tufekci argues that modern social movements are generated......more