Research by Erika Chenoweth found no revolutionary campaign has failed after it achieved active, sustained participation from 3.5% of the population. While a small percentage, this represents a massive absolute number of people, indicating a critical mass of momentum has been achieved.

Modern populists gain influence by creating organic content that captures algorithmic attention, effectively turning a small campaign budget into disproportionate reach. This bottom-up strategy bypasses traditional, money-driven political machines by treating social attention as the primary currency, not dollars.

The rise of populism is better understood as a resurgence of humanity's innate "groupish" and tribal instincts. This regression is amplified by a modern cocktail of social media, rapid migration, and weakening political institutions, making it a deeper cultural and psychological phenomenon than just an economic one.

The appeal of a populist leader lies in their rejection of traditional political norms. When the electorate feels betrayed by the established "political class," they gravitate toward figures whose rhetoric is a deliberate and stark contrast, signaling they are an outsider.

Populist movements disproportionately attract the young, who seek ideology and direction, and the old, who see societal changes threatening their fixed status. The middle-aged, empowered by their prime earning years and sense of agency, are conspicuously less engaged in these movements.

Protests are not just single events; they create networks and invest participants emotionally, laying the groundwork for sustained organizing, voter registration, and future turnouts.

The primary value of protests isn't just cinematic outrage; it's serving as a gateway for deeper organizing. Demonstrations allow individuals to connect with the groups that form the backbone of sustained political action, creating lasting, though often unseen, infrastructure.

It doesn't take a majority of a population to enact significant political change; a small but sufficiently fervent and motivated minority can be incredibly effective. Their passion and commitment can outweigh the apathy of the larger population, similar to the low engagement rates in modern political parties.

Contrary to cynicism that protests achieve little, research shows a strong correlation between mass participation and electoral outcomes. For example, high turnout in the 2017 Women's Marches had a powerful predictive effect on the diversity of candidates and the Democratic "blue wave" in the 2018 midterm elections.