ABSTRACT
The development and emergence of grievances rests on identification of a situation considered to be blatantly unjust, appropriation of the injustice, i.e., considering oneself as concerned by this injustice and responsibilisation of oneself and others to do something to remedy or redress the injustice. These three phases are consistently present in narratives of engagement and explain to a large extent how grievances develop, how they are engaged with and how they may lead to a situation where an individual feels that they must personally step up to the plate and mobilise.
This chapter presents the findings related to identification. As the narratives reveal, identifying an injustice often involves confrontations with moral shocks or painful collective memories, which are sometimes mediated by what can be described as grievance entrepreneurs. Identifying an injustice also includes identifying a perpetrator, which is often vilified and constructed as an enemy. I also present findings on the role of sensitivity, which may be better grasped as resistance against apathy, and the emotions involved in identifying injustices and developing grievances.
