Political protests are primarily viewed as irrational and ineffective gestures in systems where power is perceived to be fairly distributed, according to the power-elite model.

Political protests can sometimes be seen as pointless in societies where power is shared fairly among people. This is because, in such systems, the government is more likely to listen to the voices of the citizens, making protests seem unnecessary. For example, if a community feels heard and represented, they might choose to work through local meetings instead of marching in the streets. However, when people feel that their concerns are ignored, they may protest to demand change, even if it seems irrational to others. The power-elite model suggests that protests are more common in systems where a few individuals hold most of the power, as those without power feel they need to take a stand.