From a Neo-Liberal to Non-Liberal Context: Social Movements in (and Of) the Dark Times?

Abstract

Recent political developments in liberal democracies suggest that both political conflicts and actors are undergoing significant transformations. First, old types of societal cleavages are being reinforced (center/periphery, socio-economic) and merge with new socio-cultural trends (new nationalism, de-Europeanization, new conservatism). Second, new actors enter the arenas of both protest and electoral politics; new forms of populism arise, new repertoire is being employed. Third, political opportunities have been transformed for the existing forms of social and political activism. In our panel, we aim at an analysis of social movement groups driving and/or facing the rise of populist right in Eastern Europe. In 2010, Fidesz won the majority of seats in the parliamentary elections in Hungary, and also Jobbik succeeded. We have witnessed a nearly regime change, a move towards self-proclaimed illiberal democracy, since then. A very similar development defined Polish politics since 2015. In both countries a series of protests accompanied these developments. In the Czech Republic, political populism has recently taken a managerial/anti-political form. Although semantically different, all these parties run on the platform, which challenges political pluralism and liberal tolerance of the past. Similar trends can be observed in other countries too. What are the consequences for social movement groups? Can we observe any transformations in the way they act publicly and cooperate with their partners? Are they declining, adjusting their agenda and strategies, or calling to arms? Are they innovating their strategies? We aim at identifying the dynamics of these aspects of political activism in the current period.