Injustice and mobilization against the state

Abstract: This study aims to investigate if and how land dispossession facilitates collective action and leads to mobilization against the state. Land can be a natural, material and spiritual commodity thus land dispossession can be perceived unjust in several ways. This leads to anger that can be utilized to form a collective group. Successful communication of objectives can lead to politicization of injustice and mobilization against the state. To test this theoretical claim, an observational case study with the method of structured focused comparison method has been conducted. Three cases of mobilization - Kilimapesa, Kenya; Mabira Forest, Uganda and Madagascar - are compared to analyze if and how increasing inequalities in the form land dispossession can explain this outcome. The empirical findings suggest that land dispossession perceived as unjust could cause anger, facilitate collective action and mobilization against the state. In cases where land dispossession was not perceived as unjust, no mobilization was observed. This gives some support to the hypotheses. The study concludes that in some cases land dispossession perceived as unjust could facilitate collective action and lead to mobilization against the state. Land dispossession can be used to increase the price for non-participating in collective action.