World Protests, 1st ed. 2022 A Study of Key Protest Issues in the 21st Century
Auteurs : Ortiz Isabel, Burke Sara, Berrada Mohamed, Saenz Cortés Hernán
The start of the 21st century has seen the world shaken by protests, from the Arab Spring to the Yellow Vests, from the Occupy movement to the social uprisings in Latin America. There are periods in history when large numbers of people have rebelled against the way things are, demanding change, such as in 1848, 1917, and 1968. Today we are living in another time of outrage and discontent, a time that has already produced some of the largest protests in world history.
This book analyzes almost three thousand protests that occurred between 2006 and 2020 in 101 countries covering over 93 per cent of the world population. The study focuses on the major demands driving world protests, such as those for real democracy, jobs, public services, social protection, civil rights, global justice, and those against austerity and corruption. It also analyzes who was demonstrating in each protest; what protest methods they used; who the protestors opposed; what was achieved; whether protests were repressed; and trends such as inequality and the rise of women?s and radical right protests. The book concludes that the demands of protestors in most of the protests surveyed are in full accordance with human rights and internationally agreed-upon UN development goals. The book calls for policy-makers to listen and act on these demands.
1. Objectives and Methodology................................................................................... 12
2. The World Awakes: Protests Increase 2006-2020...................................................... 15
3. Main Grievances/Demands...................................................................................... 18
4. Grievances/Demands on Failure of Political Representation and Political Systems...... 21
4.a. Real Democracy............................................................................................... 24
4.b. Corruption....................................................................................................... 24
4.c. Justice............................................................................................................. 25
4.d. Sovereignty and Patriotic Issues........................................................................ 25
4.e. Transparency and Accountability...................................................................... 25
4.f. A “Deep Government”/Oligarchy...................................................................... 25
4.g. Anti-War Protests/Anti Military-Industrial Complex........................................... 26
4.h. Citizen Surveillance.......................................................................................... 26
4.i. Anti-Socialism and Anti-Communism................................................................. 26
5. Grievances/Demands on Economic Justice/Anti-Austerity......................................... 27
5.a. Jobs, Higher Wages and Labor Conditions......................................................... 30
5.b. Reform of Public Services.................................................................................. 30
5.c. Corporate Influence/Deregulation/Privatization................................................ 31
5.d. Inequality........................................................................................................ 31
5.e. Tax/Fiscal Justice............................................................................................. 31
5.f. Low Living Standards....................................................................................... 32
5.g. Agrarian/Land Reform..................................................................................... 32
5.h. Fuel and Energy Prices...................................................................................... 32
5.i. Pension Reforms.............................................................................................. 33
5.j. Housing........................................................................................................... 33
5.k. Food Prices...................................................................................................... 34
6. Grievances/Demands on Civil Rights......................................................................... 35
6.a. Ethnic /Indigenous /Racial Justice..................................................................... 37
6.b. Right to the Commons...................................................................................... 38
6.c. Deny Rights to Groups...................................................................................... 38
6.d. Freedom of Assembly /Speech /Press................................................................ 38
6.e. Women's /Girls' Rights..................................................................................... 39
6.f. Labor Rights.................................................................................................... 39
6.g. LGBT /Sexual Rights......................................................................................... 39
6.h. Immigrants’ Rights........................................................................................... 40
6.i. Personal Freedoms........................................................................................... 40
6.j. Prisoners' Rights.............................................................................................. 40
6.k. Religious Rights............................................................................................... 40
7. Grievances/Demands for Global Justice.................................................................... 41
7.a Environment/Climate Justice............................................................................ 43
7.b. Anti-International Financial Institutions............................................................. 44
7.c. Anti-Imperialism.............................................................................................. 44
7.d. Anti-Free Trade................................................................................................ 44
7.e. Global Commons............................................................................................. 45
7.f. Anti-G20.......................................................................................................... 45
8. Who protests?........................................................................................................ 46
8.a. Main Groups Leading Protests 2006-2020: From NGOs and Trade Unions to Hackers...................................................................................................................... 46
8.b. Greater Grassroots Participation....................................................................... 47
9. Number of Demonstrators....................................................................................... 49
9.a. Some of the Largest Protests in History............................................................. 49
9.b. Protests and Civic Space................................................................................... 51
10. Methods of Protest.............................................................................................. 52
10.a. Marches and Protest Assemblies/Rallies............................................................ 52
10.b. Blockades, Occupations and Civil Disobedience/Direct Action............................. 53
10.c. Strikes and Walkouts........................................................................................ 53
10.d. Vandalism/Looting........................................................................................... 53
10.e. Internet Activism and Whistleblowing/Leaks..................................................... 54
10.f. Pot-banging/Noisemaking, Street Music, Educational Events.............................. 54
10.g. Boycotts and Lawsuits...................................................................................... 54
10.h. Hunger Strikes and Self-Inflicted Violence.......................................................... 55
11. Who Do Protesters Oppose?................................................................................ 56
11.b. Political/Economic System................................................................................ 56
11.c. Corporations/Employers................................................................................... 56
11.d. Elites............................................................................................................... 57
11.e. Political Parties................................................................................................ 57
11.f. Military/Police................................................................................................. 57
11.g. The European Union (EU) and European Central Bank (ECB)............................... 58
11.h. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank.............................. 58
11.i. Financial Sector............................................................................................... 58
11.j. The United States of America............................................................................ 58
12. What Do Protests Achieve?.................................................................................. 60
13. Violence, Repression, and Surveillance................................................................. 64
13.a. Limited but Increasing Protestors’ Violence....................................................... 64
13.b. Increasing Repression and Surveillance of Protestors: Arrests, Injuries, and Deaths 65
14. Trends: Some Key Issues...................................................................................... 70
14.a Rising populism and radical right protests......................................................... 70
14.a.i. Weaponizing Protests...................................................................................... 72
14.b. Inequality........................................................................................................ 74
14.b.i. Inequality and Protests..................................................................................... 74
14.b.ii. Protests and the Perception that Governments Serve a Few............................... 78
14.c. Corruption....................................................................................................... 79
14.d. Women........................................................................................................... 81
14.e. From the Arab Spring to the Latin America Spring: Ignored Economic Demands lead to Political Dissent...................................................................................................... 83
15. Conclusion: Human Rights, Development and World Protests 2006-2020............... 86
Main References............................................................................................................ 91
Annex I: Methodology..................................................................................................... 95 Annex II. 250 Methods of Non-Violent Protests................................................................ 99Annex III: Main World Protest 2006-2020....................................................................... 104
Isabel Ortiz is Director of the Global Social Justice Program at the Initiative for Policy Dialogue at Columbia University, USA, and former Director at the United Nations’ International Labor Organization and UNICEF.
Sara Burke is Senior Policy Analyst at the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung New York, USA.
Mohamed Berrada is a Senior Economist and Independent Consultant.
Hernán Saenz Cortés is Senior Researcher on Inequality and Tax and Advocacy Coordinator on European Union - Latin America relations at OXFAM.
This book is open access, which means that you have free and unlimited access
Surveys nearly three thousand protests in 101 countries from 2006 to 2020
Offers insights into the demands, demographics, methods, and outcomes of protests throughout this period
Contextualizes contemporary protests in relation to historic periods of widespread popular upheaval
Date de parution : 11-2021
Ouvrage de 185 p.
14.8x21 cm
Disponible chez l'éditeur (délai d'approvisionnement : 15 jours).
Prix indicatif 52,74 €
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Mots-clés :
Open Access; Protests; social movements; campaigns; demonstrations; riots; democracy; austerity; civil rights; social justice
