Climate Justice Now!: Why Protesters Break the Law, Block Roads, and Damage Property to Protect the Earth

Abstract

In response to accelerating climate change, an increasing number of protesters engage in disruptive (and at times illegal) actions, such as road blockades and damaging high-emission vehicles, to demand urgent social change. This dissertation explores why Dutch climate protesters break the law and what motivates them to participate in such nonnormative protests. Since 2019, climate protests in the Netherlands have intensified. Although environmental activism has historical roots going back to the 17th century, today’s climate movements build on several waves of activism - from early conservation efforts to the current global push for systemic change. The latest wave, marked by groups like Extinction Rebellion, emphasizes nonviolent civil disobedience. This dissertation integrates collective action literature and radicalization theories to (1) explore the social psychology - history integration to study radical environmentalism, (2) examine protesters’ varying injustice perceptions and how these link to different normative and nonnormative protest intentions, and (3) illustrate how perceived injustice and radical protest willingness change over time and replicate across two national contexts. The research draws on a wide range of methods, including in-depth interviews, archival research, online surveys, experimental designs, and fieldwork at climate protests. The studies revealed four distinct types of perceived injustice: ecological (environmental harm), social (inequity in climate responsibilities and burdens), procedural (unfair treatment by authorities), and systemic (unjust systems). Each of these was associated with protesters’ willingness to engage in nonnormative protest behaviors. Protesters justified law-breaking actions by pointing to the moral urgency of addressing what is at stake and past successes of social movements using nonviolent civil disobedience. Decreased trust in authorities and the democratic system were also linked to increased willingness to engage in disruptive tactics. This was especially evident when protesters experienced unfair treatment by police. More specifically, perceived police injustice at protests was linked to feelings of significance loss and increased support for ecotage (environmental sabotage) among both Dutch and American protesters. By integrating social psychology with historical analysis, this dissertation argues that processes of climate-radicalization (and non-radicalization) do not develop in a linear way, but are dynamic and contingent. A historical case study of the Amelisweerd forest protests (1971-1983) illustrates how repeated injustice - particularly through repression and dismissal by authorities - can escalate protest behavior from peaceful to more disruptive forms. The past years, new climate groups have increasingly turned to civil disobedience, including disrupting public order and defying police commands. As long as these actions remain nonviolent, they fall within the legal right to protest. This dissertation underscores the need for mutual trust, fair treatment, and open communication between protesters and authorities to prevent escalation and foster a sustainable, just and open society.