Protest Dynamics & Legitimisation of Repression

Abstract

This panel brings together papers that examine the conditions under which protests emerge, escalate into violence, and elicit varying state responses. Across diverse empirical contexts, ranging from economic shocks and anti-migrant mobilisation to armed rebellion and authoritarian crackdowns, the contributions probe how grievances translate into collective action, when and why protests turn violent, and how states choose between repression and concession. Together, the panel raises broader questions about the role of economic vulnerability, democratic institutions, and discursive framing in shaping both the trajectories of contentious politics and the legitimation strategies employed by regimes facing popular unrest.

Title	Details
Summers of Discontent: the Evolution of Protest Dynamics Across Two Summers of Anti-Migrant Mobilisation in the UK	View Paper Details
Kinder and Gentler, Also to Terrorists? Consensus Democracy and Counterterrorism	View Paper Details
Explaining the Geography of Discontent: How Economic Shocks Affect the Spatial Dynamics of Protest	View Paper Details
When Do Disruption and Violence Lead to Concessions for Marginalized Groups?	View Paper Details
Legitimising Repression Through Emotions: Autocratic Protest Discourse in Kazakhstan and Tunisia	View Paper Details