Book contents
- People For Oil
- Cambridge Studies in Contentious Politics
- People For Oil
- Copyright page
- Dedication
- Contents
- Figures and Tables
- Acknowledgments
- 1Introduction
- 2The Making of a Petro-Public
- 3Pro-Oil Mobilization Today
- 4Joining Up
- 5The Citizen Reserve
- 6Power Through the People
- 7Beyond the Front
- Book part
- References
- Index
5 - The Citizen Reserve
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 24 April 2026
Book contents
- People For Oil
- Cambridge Studies in Contentious Politics
- People For Oil
- Copyright page
- Dedication
- Contents
- Figures and Tables
- Acknowledgments
- 1Introduction
- 2The Making of a Petro-Public
- 3Pro-Oil Mobilization Today
- 4Joining Up
- 5The Citizen Reserve
- 6Power Through the People
- 7Beyond the Front
- Book part
- References
- Index
Summary
Using the case study of the American Petroleum Institute’s citizen mobilization efforts, this chapter explores how the largest U.S.-based oil trade group came to embrace, for the first time, a constant and preemptive mode of citizen mobilization. Through interviews with API staff and analysis of campaign materials, the chapter traces the Institute’s efforts to build a predictable support base for the industry, identifying backers ready to fight on the sector’s behalf as new issues or projects become politically controversial. This “citizen reserve” has become an influential model of mobilization, allowing oil companies to vie for short-term legislative wins and the industry’s long-term repute.
Keywords
Information
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- People For OilCitizen Mobilization in the U.S. and Canadian Fossil Fuel Industries, pp. 81 - 98Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2026
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