system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
What are the mechanisms by which mass protests influence political actors?

Ok -- so there's a ton of people out on the streets. Why and how and who precisely does that affect governmental leaders?

Is it that certain certain business leaders fear a loss of business, and so pressure the political leaders? Is there a fear of international sanctions if protests are simply violently squelched? Or is there some actual sympathy with the bravery and demands of the protesters? Or something else? 

What are the mechanisms by which boots on the street lead to changes in the decisions of particular political actors?
gpt
This is a very broad topic, but there’s a good book on it called *Understanding Revolution* by Patrick Van Inwegen. There’s several different paths and methods that social movements go through to effect change. If you’re interested I’d recommend it.