ABSTRACT
Most research on social change investigates the role of identification with a disadvantaged group, perceptions of disadvantage, emotional experiences related to disadvantage and efficacy beliefs in motivating people to challenge the status quo and redress inequalities. However, engaging in such attempts might be costly in precarious contexts, and in such contexts, individuals might pursue alternative pathways to change, including identity management strategies such as individual mobility. The present research investigates how perceived grievances, hope and a personal history of activism influence collective action intentions and alternative identity management strategies, that is, migration tendencies in a context where public participation may be perceived as costly. Using survey data (N = 980) from university students in Iran, we test a moderated mediation model linking grievances and past participation to collective action intentions and migration tendencies through efficacy beliefs, anger and avoidance-oriented negative emotions. Our findings indicate that hope strengthens the indirect link from past participation to collective action intentions via perceived efficacy and avoidance-oriented negative emotions. We also find that when individuals are more hopeful, perceived grievances are also associated with individual mobility attempts via anger. We discuss the implications for research on social change.