The meanings of disruption: conditions and effects of radical action and protest violence

Abstract

What is the relationship between civil society and violence and disruption and does violence make civil society "uncivil"? What are the effects of radical resistance tactics, especially when compared to more conventional forms of protest – are they relational to the systemic violence in which resistance operates, dependent on discursive rationalization, or subject to objective criteria? The divergent perceptions of mobilization against restrictions in the frame of the pandemic, the hesitant support of popular uprisings in Sudan and Iran, but also the controversy over the return of radical direct action in the climate justice movement have moved these questions back to the center of social movement and conflict studies. Situated at the intersection of these disciplines, this panel aims to explore the explore the conditions and effects of radical action and protest (non)violence, focusing on the disruptive nature of different forms of protest as well as the dynamics of confrontation between radical action and policing. Based on a variety of case studies of disruptive and, at times, unconventional forms of resistance, the panel delves into the subjective meaning-making processes that condition the genesis and effects of radical action and that mediate between activism and state response. Together, these papers offer insight into the ingenious mechanisms by which individuals and groups resist oppressive systems, sometimes in ways that are deemed unexpected and unconventional. Furthermore, they highlight the importance of situational and cultural factors in shaping action repertoires and the key role of public and private meaning making process in determining the effectiveness and legitimacy of radical politics - including violent and disruptive forms of action.

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