ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the outcomes of demobilization in postrevolutionary contexts, democratic transition and counterrevolution. While alliances among challengers are crucial to sustain revolutionary coalitions during the phase of mobilization, their durability will support the transition to democratic rules. In contrast, fragmentation of challengers’ prerevolutionary coalitions during processes of demobilization will contribute to a counterrevolution, profiting from challengers’ divisions. Demobilization characterizes the decline of the protest wave, and involves a reduction of contentious action following the shrinking of the resources available to challengers for collective claims-making. Pacts and compromise among and within elites are crucial during the processes of demobilization, positively impacting on the emergence of sustainable democracies. Identifying how challengers are able to keep up long-lasting alliances and mutual solidarity is a difficult task. Sustainable alliances are difficult to accomplish, especially for actors with diverse characteristics, interests, and the identities.
