The Legacy of Mobilization: Democratization Pathways and Protest Participation in Third‐Wave Democracies

Hyun‐Jin Cha

Social Science Quarterly, 2026, vol. 107, issue 3

Abstract: Objective This study examines how democratization pathways shape patterns of protest participation in new democracies, with a particular focus on the long‐term effects of mass mobilization during regime transitions. Methods Using harmonized survey data from 28 third‐wave democracies and country‐level indicators from the V‐Dem dataset, this study employs multilevel logistic regression models to assess how individual‐level attitudes and macro‐level democratization pathways jointly influence protest participation. Results The findings show that democratic duration is negatively associated with protest participation on average. However, this relationship varies by democratization pathway. In countries that experienced large‐scale mass mobilization during democratization, protest participation increases over time, and democratic dissatisfaction is more likely to translate into protest. These patterns suggest that mobilization legacies shape how citizens perceive and engage in protest. Conclusion The study demonstrates that protest in new democracies is not merely a function of institutional development but is deeply conditioned by the historical processes through which democracy emerged. Mobilizational transitions leave enduring legacies that embed protest as a legitimate and effective form of political participation.

Date: 2026
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