Activism in the time of COVID-19

Abstract

In many countries, COVID-19 has amplified the health, economic and social inequities that motivate group-based collective action. We draw upon the SIRDE/IDEAS model of social change to explore how the pandemic might have affected complex reactions to social injustices. We argue that the virus elicits widespread negative emotions which are spread contagiously through social media due to increased social isolation caused by shelter-in-place directives. When an incident occurs which highlights systemic injustices, the prevailing negative emotional climate intensifies anger at these injustices as well as other emotions, which motivates participation in protest actions despite the obvious risk. We discuss how the pandemic might shape both normative and non-normative protests, including radical violent and destructive collective actions. We also discuss how separatism is being encouraged in some countries due to a lack of effective national leadership and speculate that this is partially the result of different patterns of social identification.

Xenophobia and anti-immigrant attitudes in the time of COVID-19

“…In Canada, immigrants and refugees represented 44% of Ontario's COVID-19 cases in the first half of 2020, despite representing only about 25% of the population (Guttmann et al, 2020). While these disparities are to some extent driven by structural racism, they also have the potential to perpetuate individuallevel racism and xenophobia by fueling activation of disease concerns (see Grant & Smith, 2021, for a discussion of group-based collective action in response to these disparities). If the media and politicians portray ethnic minorities, immigrants, and refugees as vectors of COVID-19, this will lead to dehumanization and support for restrictive immigration policies (Esses et al, 2013).…”

Racial bias confrontation in the United States: What (if anything) has changed in the COVID-19 era, and where do we go from here?

“…Specifically, 80% believed social media raises public awareness of social issues, and 77% believed social media can create sustainable social movements (Auxier & McClain, 2020). Moreover, there has been an increase (45% to 58%) in using social media to get involved with social/political issues among 18-29-year-olds since 2018 (Auxier, 2020; see also Grant & Smith, 2021, for further discussion on activism during the time of COVID-19).…”

Do disasters trigger protests? A conceptual view and review of the connection between disasters, injustice, and protests – the case of COVID-19

“…With global lockdowns and stay at home restrictions, people had more time to spend on social media (e.g., Grant and Smith, 2021). The increased time on social media increased the exposure to messages highlighting social inequalities (Grant and Smith, 2021;Ramsden, 2020).…”

“…With global lockdowns and stay at home restrictions, people had more time to spend on social media (e.g., Grant and Smith, 2021). The increased time on social media increased the exposure to messages highlighting social inequalities (Grant and Smith, 2021;Ramsden, 2020). The exposure to social inequalities via social media during the pandemic might increase people's sense of perceived injustice and illegitimacy, in turn, collective anger.…”