ProTest: Protest as a Democracy Test: Protest Culture under Transformation and as a Transformative Power

ProTest is a research project that analyzes protest politics and culture in the context of what is reported as a global trend of de-democratization. 

Key Objectives of the project:

The project aims to analyze how de-democratization processes affect protest culture and how these effects vary across countries with different qualities of democracy. It also investigates how changes in protest culture influence the state of democracy, particularly regarding the inclusion of citizens' preferences in the political agenda. The project considers both direct measures (legislative constraints, securitization of law, fines, physical force) and indirect measures (discursive manipulations) used to affect protest culture. The project also aims to trace the influence of protest culture on the state of democracy, focusing on the inclusion of citizens' preferences in the political agenda.

Research Focus of the project:

-    Protesters' repertoires and framing: Examining the strategies and motivations of protesters in countries with varying levels of democracy.

-   Authorities' measures: Analyzing how authorities use institutional and discursive mechanisms to challenge protest culture.

-    Role of media: Investigating the influence of mainstream and social media in shaping protest culture.

-    Citizens' role: Focusing on the perceptions and practices of different generations (Gen X, Gen Y, and Gen Z) in protest culture.