The Activist and Elite Interaction and Information Exchange Game

We have thus far mapped out the different developments and structural factors of the mobilization process leading to mass protest. In order to place the moments of mass mobilization in context we traced the longer history of activism, we analysed medium-term and contextual structural variables, and investigated how these variables help us identify how patterns of mobilization and crises set precedents for actor coalitions, and set the stage against the backdrop of which the mobilization process is played out. We have identified several attempts at mass mobilization on the part of activist and opposition politicians in the past, which did not bring mass support out onto the streets. And we have identified how past political and economic crises (in both cases), as well as ongoing foreign financing in the case of Ukraine have not consistently produced a protest response. Therefore we need to delve deeper into the analysis — taking into consideration past experiences, structural variables and the immediate context. We are promoted to ask again: Who are the key actors involved in the mobilization process? and When do they become involved? In this part, we will explore in greater detail the moment of mass mobilization itself, through the eyes of the key actors involved. In this part we focus on agency. We dissect at which point each actor joined into the mobilization equation, exploring what motivated their actions.