New research shows how precarity drives people into activism

A recent paper by Lucia Garcia-Lorenzo, Lucia Sell-Trujillo and Paul Donnelley introduces the concept to ‘necessity activism’ to describe how survival rather than ideology drives people to political engagement.

The researchers followed activists from two anti-austerity collectives in Seville over a nine-year period. Using a liminal and identity work approach, they explored how precarity, such as job loss, eviction, and institutional stigma, rather than ideology, drove people to political activism. They show that people facing such difficulties undergo a three-phase identity journey:

• Forced separation: where a systemic crisis expels people from established social roles
• Intensive identity work: a liminal phase where collective action helps restore dignity, confidence and connection
• Varied outcomes: some find lasting activist identities, whereas others disengage due to burnout or material strain

The research shows that necessity activism is impactful but involves emotional and material costs, as well as changing identities under unstable conditions.

Garcia-Lorenzo said: "This research highlights how economic insecurity, rather than dampening political engagement, can actually push people toward collective action as a way of reclaiming agency over their own lives. For many, activism becomes a means of finding solidarity and community in the face of instability, a reminder that precarity, while deeply challenging, can also be a catalyst for connection and change. I hope these findings resonate with anyone who has felt the weight of uncertainty, and encourage policymakers and institutions to recognise that behind every statistic on precarious work there are real people finding ways to fight back and support one another."

Read the full open access paper:

Garcia‑Lorenzo, L., Sell‑Trujillo, L., & Donnelly, P. (2026). When survival becomes politics: Necessity activism and identity work under precarity. Political Psychology, 47, e70119. https://doi.org/10.1111/pops.70119