Becoming political while avoiding politics: a study of Yellow Vests first-timers

The French Yellow Vests movement offers a case study for examining the logics and effects of avoidance institutional politics. brought together seasoned activists large share first-time protesters, i.e. social actors with no prior experience in collective action or party Drawing on in-depth ethnographic biographical interviews conducted latter, we argue that, paradoxically enough, avoiding politics was condition possibility their entry continuation mobilisation. Moreover, they became political insofar as acquired sense entitlement to speak out publicly citizens, new appetence current affairs. Even though first-timers’ interest forms knowledge remained very unequal, urge tactics that might, under certain circumstances, foster politicisation among most disenfranchised groups.