There is
apparently quite a bit of divide that has emerged with the recent arrest of an
environmental activist Disha Ravi from Bangalore in connection with the
Republic Day violence and aftermath. Disha apparently is aged twenty two and
thus seemed to find sympathy among the section of the crowd that is egging on
her. Her supporters are of course bounded by a common dislike often
degenerating into a pathological hatred for Modi, which would make her their
celebrity hero irrespective of her age. Age might just be a number.
Conceivably, Disha began her activism at age of nineteen and has evolved from
an environmental activist into one of anti-establishment activist. There might
be an irony she is fighting in favour of those farming interests, singularly
responsible for environmental degradation of Punjab and Haryana. Rather than
examining the merits or otherwise of the case, it would be instructive to
decode her motivations for activism. It begs to be understood why youngsters
are attracted by activism.
Like any other
activity, activism too generates a cost benefit analysis. There must exist a
role model for any youngster as he or she plans for their career. In the post
titled ‘ Pakistan
and the Role Model Dilemma’, this concept has been discussed at length in
the context of Pakistanis supporting terrorism. Similarly, another primer
on economics too discusses at certain length these motivations in the contex of
fashion shows or cricet coaching classes. The same models what was discussed in
the context illustrated above applies to activism also. Youngsters seek to
emulate Marc Zuckenberg as much as some of them would want to emulate Greta
Thernberg. Both in different ways act as role models for youngsters as do
cricketing legends or other sportsmen or artists. They seek to trend in a
career path akin to these activist celebrities. As noted above, there are costs
and benefits. The benefits perhaps involve the publicity, the fame, being at
the centre of attraction, able to meet people in the highest circles, moving in
fashionable party circuits, fund raisers among other things. The glamour
quotient in these days of five star activism are too high for being ignored by
the youngsters. This is akin to Bollywood or any other film industry. Like elsewhere,
the barriers to entry remain formidable. The number of people succeeding to
substantial extent would be few. There would be godfathers or godmothers one
too many, tripping of one would perhaps drive down the snake instead of a
ladder.
Youngsters have
fanciful ideas and ambitions and aspirations and it is just natural that they
seek to improve or fashion the world on their terms. The revolutionary
movements often originated in the youngsters with some examples including Fidel
Castro, Jacob Arbenz or Muhammad Gaddafi. One might or might not be in
admiration of them, yet one cannot deny they achieved success and perhaps some
downfall at an young age. The heady cocktail of social media and glamour
associated with the same attracts many
youngsters to activism. They might be involved in innocuous movements or
activities but just a thin line separates these from more sinister activities.
Like in other industries, there are recruiters who are keep to tap new talent
to run their gravy train going. If a young activist catches the eye of such a
recruiter they might find their career path smoother. It is just not the
glamour or the connections but a possible scholarship and admission to a
prestigious US college and maybe a career in the West would lead them to dabble
in it. Perhaps there might be an unwitting entry but over a period of time,
many do master the tactics and seek to elevate themselves in the vertical
ladder of the activist hierarchy.
Like any other
industry, activism too is a tournament. There are many who seek to enter the
industry. There are perhaps some who are attracted by the incentives on offer.
There some who enter because they are convinced they can do something better
for the society. The motivation levels at the bottom and the top differ. The
bottom is as eager to impress the top. The rewards are plentiful. There would
be opportunities to attend conferences all over. There are fund-raisers to rub
shoulders with celebrities in the industry and the donors alike. There is an
opportunity to leverage the glamour and enhance the fame and be the centre of
attraction. Yet to the bosses, the raw talent they hire would be of utility if
there were to exist the economies of scope. The economies of scope would
mandate the movement across the horizontals in the NGO space even though they
might not be directly linked to the field of work. Therefore it would not be a
surprise if the environmentalist movement sides with the anti-establishment
protests even though the protests might lead to an outcome completely
antithetical to the objectives of the environmental movement. The same would
hold good for any labour movement intersecting with another movement. Yet,
while some may do out of conviction, for many others, it is the incentives that
come in to leverage their upward mobility that drives them. To their handlers
at their top, this might be a risk mitigating strategy. The raw talent usually
young is bubbling with aspirations and energy and eager to make a mark without
minding to cut the corners so as to speak. The top line in the hierarchy would
seek to avoid risk for themselves, while the young would seek to embrace risk
since it gives them an opportunity to impress the who’s who of the industry and
thus prospective growth. In instances, wherein there would be friendly
governments, they would perhaps succeed and making a mark in the domain. Yet
there are risks and costs to pay if caught. The cost-benefit analysis is not
something different that one would witness let us say in a drug gang something
described by Stephen Levitt.
Therefore,
contrary to the popular perception, it is not the conviction and idealism that
drives them into the industry. on the other hand, it is the incentives on offer
that make them embrace the risks of going against the establishment. What the
idealism does is given the age, it creates the extra motivator for taking those
risks. This is why the activists would prefer to hire young recruits. These are
the ones who can be the poster kids for the movement, attract new talent along the
way, and mobilize the support while taking the risks for themselves. Activism
thus runs on the principle- people respond to incentives and not any others.
The rest is merely commentary.
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