Staging Dissent: Agit-Prop, Performative Mobilisation, and Legitimacy Struggles in Iran, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Nepal

Over the past four years, there have been at least five significant protest movements across Asia. Each has left a lasting impact on the region’s political and social landscape. This article studies four of these protest movements, Iran (2022), Sri Lanka (2022), Bangladesh (2024) and Nepal (2025) through the framework of agitational propaganda and mobilisation strategies. Despite their diverse political and economic origins, these cases suggest notable similarities in patterns of mobilisation. Then, drawing on thinkers like Hannah Arendt, Judith Butler, Victor Turner, Richard Schechner, and Manuel Castells, this article tries to understand how protesters move beyond simply voicing dissent to enact opposition through symbolic actions, ritualistic repetition, and digital amplification.