Overcoming the Protestor's Dilemma: How Teacher Strikes Demobilize Opponents. EdWorkingPaper No. 24-1074
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| Title: | Overcoming the Protestor's Dilemma: How Teacher Strikes Demobilize Opponents. EdWorkingPaper No. 24-1074 |
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| Language: | English |
| Authors: | Melissa Arnold Lyon, Leslie Finger, Hyesang Noh, Annenberg Institute for School Reform at Brown University |
| Source: | Annenberg Institute for School Reform at Brown University. 2024. |
| Availability: | Annenberg Institute for School Reform at Brown University. Brown University Box 1985, Providence, RI 02912. Tel: 401-863-7990; Fax: 401-863-1290; e-mail: annenberg@brown.edu; Web site: https://annenberg.brown.edu/ |
| Peer Reviewed: | N |
| Page Count: | 78 |
| Publication Date: | 2024 |
| Sponsoring Agency: | National Academy of Education (NAEd) Spencer Foundation |
| Document Type: | Reports - Research |
| Descriptors: | Teacher Strikes, Voting, Political Attitudes, Parents, Citizen Participation, Elections |
| Abstract: | The "Protestor's Dilemma" refers to the paradox faced by protestors where their disruptive actions, while necessary to gain public attention and support, could potentially provoke backlash and weaken the very support they seek to gain. How can protestors overcome this dilemma? Teacher strikes point toward a potential path forward. To examine how strikes impact political behavior, we use an original, hand-collected dataset of teacher strikes from 2007-2020, combined with voter turnout information. We use a differences-in-differences approach, finding that teacher strikes demobilize opponents (in this case, Republican voters). Notably, they do so without violence or long-running shutdowns that might countermobilize third parties. Such non-violent, short disruptions may provide a pathway to overcoming the protestor's dilemma. |
| Abstractor: | As Provided |
| Entry Date: | 2025 |
| Accession Number: | ED672371 |
| Database: | ERIC |
| Abstract: | The "Protestor's Dilemma" refers to the paradox faced by protestors where their disruptive actions, while necessary to gain public attention and support, could potentially provoke backlash and weaken the very support they seek to gain. How can protestors overcome this dilemma? Teacher strikes point toward a potential path forward. To examine how strikes impact political behavior, we use an original, hand-collected dataset of teacher strikes from 2007-2020, combined with voter turnout information. We use a differences-in-differences approach, finding that teacher strikes demobilize opponents (in this case, Republican voters). Notably, they do so without violence or long-running shutdowns that might countermobilize third parties. Such non-violent, short disruptions may provide a pathway to overcoming the protestor's dilemma. |
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