Over the past decade, the world has seen a remarkable rise in mass protests as people from various corners rallied for change. Yet, Vincent Bevins' new book, "If We Burn: The Mass Protest Decade and the Missing Revolution," critically examines why, despite the passion and energy, these protests have seemingly yielded minimal substantial change.

From the Arab Spring to the Candlelight Revolution in South Korea, Bevins observed an unprecedented surge in global protests during this period. Out of the 10 movements he examined, only one qualifies as a success, with seven labeled as failures, resulting in worse conditions.

Examining the Impact of Major Protest Movements

The book explores big protests from 2010 to 2020, looking at instances when large demonstrations caused governments to become unstable. Countries such as Bahrain, Brazil, Chile, Egypt, Hong Kong, South Korea, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, and Yemen underwent major changes.

Bevins, although a journalist and not a historian, draws on over two hundred interviews in twelve countries, engaging with activists, politicians, and those impacted by the movements. The book aims to unravel the reasons behind the apparent gap between the passionate protests and the limited tangible outcomes.

Key questions explored include the factors leading to the protest explosion, the goals of these movements, their achievements or lack thereof, and the underlying reasons for their impact or lack of it.

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Bevins raises thought-provoking questions about why these movements often fell short of their goals and, in some cases, worsened situations rather than improved them. Examining case studies, Bevins points out instances where protests inadvertently led to unfavorable outcomes.

For instance, in Egypt, the fall of the Mubarak regime paved the way for an even more oppressive El-Sisi dictatorship. Similarly, left-wing protests in Brazil resulted in the ascent of a far-right leader.

Drawing on his experiences as a journalist, the author delves into the impact of media narratives on the global perception of these protests. 

Post-Protest Consequences and Organizational Challenges

One of the key points Bevins emphasizes is the need for effective organization and representation in activist movements. While horizontal, leaderless protests demonstrated immense power, they struggled when it came to navigating the complexities of post-protest scenarios. The book suggests that achieving lasting progressive change requires a better understanding of organizational strategies and knowledge transfer between generations of activists.

Bevins questions how so many protests led to adverse outcomes. He suggests that the rise of social media has contributed to a growing disdain for traditional political parties in democratic nations, evident in movements like Brexit and the anarcho-punk scene in Brazil. Additionally, the absence of clear leadership in spontaneous protests often leads to power vacuums swiftly filled by state entities as internal conflicts within protest movements unfold.

The book encourages readers to reflect on the successes and failures of the mass protest decade. Bevins advocates for a more nuanced understanding of strategies, urging activists to consider the local context when planning and executing protests. The book's insights prompt important questions about the effectiveness of mass protests and how future movements can learn from the past to bring about tangible and positive change.

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