This chapter compares the effects of various aspects of organizational character and identity with the effects of changes in the political opportunity structure on the protest strategies of a wide variety of organizations. The results suggest that the characteristics of organizations themselves, particularly type of organization, age, and history of protest, explain more of the variation in protest patterns than changes in the political opportunity structure. Party alliances matter, significantly and consistently, but seem to tap into enduring political orientations toward the state and toward protest itself rather than causing significant changes depending on the party in power.

Nevertheless, POS is not irrelevant. Organizations are especially likely to protest in the first year of a new administration – whether friend or foe – probably in order to capture the attention of the incoming government. They do not systematically spare their party allies. Although the sign for alliance to the party in power is negative in two of the three cities (indicating less protest), the variable fails to reach statistical significance.

MEASURING PARTY ALLIANCE

What does it mean to say that an organization is “allied” to a given political party? This question raises particularly difficult problems in the context of developing nations.