Scientists in the Streets – Science, Activism and a New Form of Contentious Politics and Performance?

This paper examines the contemporary movement “Scientists for Future” by applying the theory of “Contentious Politics” and with it the theory of “Contentious Performances” to the movement. Defined by Charles Tilly (Tilly, Tarrow 2015) as interactions in which actors make claims bearing on someone else's interest, in which governments appear either as targets, initiators of claims, or third parties and based on a set repertoire of claim making tactics (Tilly 2008), the theories of contentious politics and contentious performance provide excellent theoretical frameworks for the analysis of this first-of-a-kind movement taking scientists out of their offices and onto the street. Firstly, the paper introduces the movement “Scientists for Future” and by focusing on specific regional groups within the broader movement, provides a definition of the movement, it’s claims, portrays its forms of action and objectives. Key to this definition is also the consideration of any “self-definition” the groups might have given themselves and how these will later play out in the analysis of the movement as a potential actor of contentious politics. To this definition, the theory of contentious politics and with it that of contentious performances is applied. An introduction into the theories is given, key contributors and examples of groups that have been classified as movements within the realm of contentious politics as well as key forms of contentious performances are introduced. Key criteria of both theories are defined and applied to the defined Scientists for Future movement: their claim making, the addressed parties, their forms of action and performing thereof and processes identifiable within the movement. The paper results in a novel definition of Scientist for Future as a movement of contentious politics and performances and with that it can achieve two things: 1) lay the base for further research into future actions and achievements of this group as a defined group within the realm of contentious politics and 2) serve as a practical insight into the processes of claim making and performance of this group to use these insights as guidance to make use of the theories of contentious politics and contentious performances for future successful actions to achieve the aims of the group.