https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/monkey-cage/wp/2018/01/05/why-havent-reformists-joined-the-protests-sweeping-iran/?utm_term=.10f12216098c
"As I have argued elsewhere,
the dominant strategic thinking within the reform movement was
initially pessimistic about the viability and consequences of protest.
Grievances were so deep, they feared, that mass mobilization could stir
up emotions, spawning radicalism and providing hard-liners with an
excuse for repression, possibly leading to civil war.
Each time
conservatives cracked down on reformist activists and blocked their
initiatives within the state, the reformist leadership and
intelligentsia called on the supporters to be calm. For example, when a
prominent reformist leader was arrested, a reformist newspaper wrote
that the arrest 'might be a plan to agitate emotions, and we should not
give any opportunity for repression. Thus, at this time, any [protest]
gathering will serve the interests of authoritarians.'
One
leading reformist organization even coined the term 'active tranquility'
for this strategy, which calls reformists to keep pushing for their
demands but avoid confrontation, with a view to gain the trust of
hard-liners. Reformists also saw the ballot box as the main pathway to
peacefully push for political change and incompatible with mass
mobilization.'"
So when your natural allies don't want to join your protest, what can you do? I would also like to remind you that the Philippines reformed due to street protests. Also, it's a good time to read Martin Luther King's Letter from Birrmingham Jail.
Internet Collective Action is people organizing in a nonhierarchical manner to accomplish a particular goal. The reward is in the doing, and how much or how little anyone participates is completely voluntary, depending on their abilities and commitment to the goal. By this process amazing things can be accomplished. ICA will grow so long as the Internet is free. http://www.lisamcpherson.org/pc.htm is an example of ICA.
