Protest is an effective means of political participation. I mean that literally, not ideologically. Protest gives society a channel for communicating politica

Protest is an effective means of political participation. I mean that literally, not ideologically. Protest gives society a channel for communicating political grievance. It leads to organized political activism. It gets people elected and others kicked out of office. It also communicates to people in power, often isolated from the concerns of the grassroots, what the grassroots cares about. Don't underestimate this last bit. In countries where there is no right to protest and no free media, the elite in power literally have no clue what problems ordinary people are facing. Total "let them eat cake" situations.