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The Power of Commitment in Cooperative Social Action

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Abstract

This paper presents an agent-based simulation model of protest activity. Agents are located in a two dimensional grid and have limited ability to observe the behavior of other agents in the grid. The model is used to explore questions inspired by research on different theories of individual motivation and the so-called theory of critical mass. The simulations describe individuals who support an effort to change a policy, but acting in support of that effort is costly. When the marginal effect of participation reaches a certain level, people are more likely to get involved. With certain configurations of parameter values, the simulations produce no sustained widespread participation in protest regardless of the presence of activists; under other conditions high levels of protest are usually sustained, even without activists. However, the addition of a surprisingly small group of activists radically changes the aggregate behavior of the model under some conditions, making high and sustained protest possible when it otherwise would not have been.

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  • David Brichoux & Paul E. Johnson, 2002. "The Power of Commitment in Cooperative Social Action," Journal of Artificial Societies and Social Simulation, Journal of Artificial Societies and Social Simulation, vol. 5(3), pages 1-1.
    • Handle: RePEc:jas:jasssj:2002-13-2
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    File URL: http://jasss.soc.surrey.ac.uk/5/3/1.html
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    Cited by:

    1. Alexander Gorobets & Bart Nooteboom, 2006. "Adaptive Build-up and Breakdown of Trust: An Agent Based Computational Approach," Journal of Management & Governance, Springer;Accademia Italiana di Economia Aziendale (AIDEA), vol. 10(3), pages 277-306, September.
    2. Nooteboom, B., 2006. "Human Nature in the Adaptation of Trust," Other publications TiSEM 6a7897e0-90c6-4c0f-88ed-2, Tilburg University, School of Economics and Management.
    3. Dan Miodownik, 2006. "Cultural Differences and Economic Incentives: an Agent-Based Study of Their Impact on the Emergence of Regional Autonomy Movements," Journal of Artificial Societies and Social Simulation, Journal of Artificial Societies and Social Simulation, vol. 9(4), pages 1-2.
    4. Ian S. Lustick & Dan Miodownik, 2020. "When do institutions suddenly collapse? Zones of knowledge and the likelihood of political cascades," Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology, Springer, vol. 54(2), pages 413-437, April.

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