Agreed, the ramp-up is the hardest part on some level.
This might be due to the benefit of hindsight, but when the vector of protests seems to be accelerating, there is a genuine sense of energy in the air, like history being made in front your eyes (and with your participation).
I think there are also pragmatic reasons for this. Oligarchs and senior business community leader can start trying to hedge their bets or try to get an “edge” on the oligarchs who are firmly on the side of the regime. They want to get in early and not lose in the game of musical chairs so to speak.
Commoners too are influenced by the situation. People with marginal support for the regime start changing their views. No one wants to risk social ostracization and potential reputational damage.
People with moderate support for protesters can be influenced by severe actions from the regime and they become less open to compromise and supportive of direct action (in Ukraine this was the killing of protesters, that arguably radicalized much of the population, people now believed that Yanukovich must go).
Agreed, the ramp-up is the hardest part on some level.
This might be due to the benefit of hindsight, but when the vector of protests seems to be accelerating, there is a genuine sense of energy in the air, like history being made in front your eyes (and with your participation).
I think there are also pragmatic reasons for this. Oligarchs and senior business community leader can start trying to hedge their bets or try to get an “edge” on the oligarchs who are firmly on the side of the regime. They want to get in early and not lose in the game of musical chairs so to speak.
Commoners too are influenced by the situation. People with marginal support for the regime start changing their views. No one wants to risk social ostracization and potential reputational damage.
People with moderate support for protesters can be influenced by severe actions from the regime and they become less open to compromise and supportive of direct action (in Ukraine this was the killing of protesters, that arguably radicalized much of the population, people now believed that Yanukovich must go).