How Protests Spread: Diasporas, Wide Bridges, and the Transnational Diffusion Un Violador En Tu Camino

How do localized expressions of dissent become global? This paper answers this question by studying the diffusion of Un Violador en tu Camino—a protest performance on gender-based violence born out of the 2019 Chilean uprisings—as a case of complex contagion. Combining protest-event and survey data, I show the pivotal role of the Chilean diaspora's network structure in its diffusion. The anthem initially resonated with diaspora communities who staged solidarity performances. Direct exposure to these performances, facilitated by shared ties, subsequently inspired non-Chilean locals to adapt it to their contexts. As local adaptations proliferated, initial cultural differences were overcome, rendering Chilean intermediaries unnecessary for further adoption. Essentially, the formation of the Chilean diaspora in the 1970s created a transnational network that, decades later, facilitated the diffusion of Un Violador en tu Camino through clusters of individuals with ties to both Chile and their host societies. This reveals a broader phenomenon in which historical emigration patterns inadvertently create latent global infrastructures for diffusion.