The Pros And Cons Of Standing Rock Protests

Contentious politics are a normal and key part of a functioning democracy. Contentious politics consist of the “disruptive, direct and highly conflictive” means individuals use, such as protests, to address their governments or local authorities to change or take action regarding certain issues (Mintz et al. 240) . They play a key part of functional democracy as the fundamentals of a democracy lie on power being vested in the people as well as freedom of expression, both of which are evident in protests. Presently, in Standing Rock, North Dakota, there is contentious politics happening, given the protest taking place regarding a pipeline that would pass through Native American land if it’s construction were to be completed (Levin). Said protest one of the three characteristics that defines a protest is that it’s “actions take place outside of formal channels” (Mintz et al. 240). Said formal channels are institutions in which laws are typically, or are supposed to be made, such as government institutions and legislature in which laws are passed. That being said, in the case of Standing Rock protests, actions are being taken outside of the formal channels. Rather than interests being rushed directly into a legislative body, people are performing various informal actions to influence the government to stop or change the construction of this pipeline. To expand, the main form of protest being actively used in the Standing Rock protests is the setting up of camps and prayer circles on the property where construction of the pipeline is planned, in order to block construction and many peacefully voicing themselves on the matter (Levin). Due to the U.S. army corps of engineer’s permission to allow the pipeline without permission of tribe leader, the indigenous have no other option but to take action outside the formal legislative bodies, due to these formal institutions being the ones to allow the pipeline primarily. It is also taking action outside of formal institutions given the wide audience participating. Numerous individuals and other Native American groups across the globe have been taking action, such as the Mohawks of Kahnawake: an indigenous reservation south of Montreal (Laframbroise).

240). People protest because they perceive institutional deficiencies, which is when something within the system is not working right and has to be fixed (Mintz et al. 242). In the case of Standing Rock, many are taking action in order for the government to stop the construction of the pipeline that would impose danger to the sacred lands of the Standing Rock tribe, as well as the water that they greatly depend on. As stated previously, the U.S. army corps of engineers agreed on the pipeline, without the approval of tribal leaders (Levin), thus the movement is trying to inherently change this decision and stop the construction of a pipeline so detrimental to both native land, as well as the