Only a Moment in Time? The Changing Effectiveness of Mass Mobilization on Transitions to Democracy

Marianne Dahl, Kristian Skrede Gleditsch, Gudmund Horn Hermansen, Ida Rudolfsen, Peace Research Institute Oslo, Department of Government, University of Essex, Department of Mathematics, University of Oslo

Comparative Political Studies

Published online on June 02, 2026

Abstract

Comparative Political Studies, Ahead of Print.
Mass mobilization is widely regarded as a key driver of democratic change, yet concerns about its declining impact are growing. We examine how the effectiveness of mobilization in prompting democratic transitions has varied over the period 1900–2019 using ...