Maria Grasso

The central questions addressed in this Element are: How has protest politics changed over time, especially but not exclusively in the most recent times. And what are the implications and consequences of these transformations? In this vein, the Element identifies a number of processes of change as outlined in the literature, going from the expansion of the repertoires of contention to the normalization of protest and of the protesters, and the shifting scale of contention to more individual-level processes such as the individualization and digitalization of protest. The Element's aim is to provide a critical discussion of scholarship on the transformation of protest politics and social movement activism.

The central questions addressed in this Element are: How has protest politics changed over time, especially but not exclusively in the most recent times. And what are the implications and consequences of these transformations? In this vein, the Element identifies a number of processes of change as outlined in the literature, going from the expansion of the repertoires of contention to the normalization of protest and of the protesters, and the shifting scale of contention to more individual-level processes such as the individualization and digitalization of protest. The Element's aim is to provide a critical discussion of scholarship on the transformation of protest politics and social movement activism.

Living with Hard Times: Europeans in the Great Recession provides a new, comprehensive comparative study of the socio-political effects of the Great Recession amongst European citizens. It presents a detailed investigation of heterogeneity in the population within countries with respect to how citizens made sense of the crisis and how this situation impacted their livelihoods, outlooks and political engagement. Marco Giugni and Maria Grasso analyse citizens' experiences during the economic crisis, the decline of living standards and deprivation by structural location as well as differences in economic outlooks. They also examine the ways in which citizens from different social groups were resilient to the effects of the economic crisis. Moreover, they show how social support and social capital emerging from social relations contributed to resilience in the face of the crisis. This book explores citizen attitudes towards various welfare policies and towards immigration, and it shows how support for populist parties is differentiated within the population. Finally, Living with Hard Times looks at the impact of the crisis on different types of political action challenging incumbent governments and protesting against austerity policies

The book provides the first comprehensive comparative study of the socio-political effects of the Great Recession amongst European citizens. This book presents a detailed investigation of heterogeneity in the population within countries with respect to how citizens made sense of the crisis and how this impacted on their livelihoods, outlooks and political engagement. It analyses citizens’ experiences of the economic crisis, the decline of living standards and deprivation by structural location as well as differences in economic outlooks. It examines the ways in which citizens from different social groups were able to be resilient to the effects of the economic crisis. Moreover, it shows how social support and social capital emerging from social relations contributed to resilience in the face of the crisis. It also examines citizen attitudes in relation to various welfare policies and to immigration and how support for populist parties are differentiated within the population. The book also looks at the impact of the crisis on different types of political action challenging incumbent governments and protesting against austerity policies.

What is the relationship between economic crises and protest behaviour? Does the experience of austerity, or economic hardship more broadly defined, create a greater potential for protest? With protest movements and events such as the Indignados and the Occupy Movement receiving a great deal of attention in the media and in the popular imaginary in recent times, this path-breaking book offers a rigorously-researched, evidence-based set of chapters on the relationship between austerity and protest. In so doing, it provides a thorough overview of different theories, mechanisms, patterns and trends which will contextualize more recent developments, and provide a pivotal point of reference on the relationship between these two variables. More specifically, this book will speak to three crucial, long-standing debates in scholarship in political sociology, social movement studies, and related fields: The effects of economic hardship on protest and social movements. The role of grievances and opportunities in social movement theory. The distinction between 'old' and 'new' movements. The chapters in this book engage with these three key debates and challenge commonly held views of political sociologists and social movement scholars on all three counts, thus allowing us to advance study in the field.

This new comparative analysis shows that there are reasons to be concerned about the future of democratic politics. Younger generations have become disengaged from the political process. The evidence presented in this comprehensive study shows that they are not just less likely than older generations to engage in institutional political activism such as voting and party membership - they are also less likely to engage in extra-institutional protest activism. Generations, Political Participation and Social Change in Western Europe offers a rigorously researched empirical analysis of political participation trends across generations in Western Europe. It examines the way in which the political behaviour of younger generations leads to social change. Are younger generations completely disengaged from politics, or do they simply choose to participate in a different way to previous generations? The book is of key interest to scholars, students and practitioners of political sociology, political participation and behaviour, European Politics, Comparative Politics and Sociology.

This new comparative analysis shows that there are reasons to be concerned about the future of democratic politics. Younger generations have become disengaged from the political process. The evidence presented in this comprehensive study shows that they are not just less likely than older generations to engage in institutional political activism such as voting and party membership - they are also less likely to engage in extra-institutional protest activism. Generations, Political Participation and Social Change in Western Europe offers a rigorously researched empirical analysis of political participation trends across generations in Western Europe. It examines the way in which the political behaviour of younger generations leads to social change. Are younger generations completely disengaged from politics, or do they simply choose to participate in a different way to previous generations? The book is of key interest to scholars, students and practitioners of political sociology, political participation and behaviour, European Politics, Comparative Politics and Sociology.

What is the relationship between economic crises and protest behaviour? Does the experience of austerity, or economic hardship more broadly defined, create a greater potential for protest? With protest movements and events such as the Indignados and the Occupy Movement receiving a great deal of attention in the media and in the popular imaginary in recent times, this path-breaking book offers a rigorously-researched, evidence-based set of chapters on the relationship between austerity and protest. In so doing, it provides a thorough overview of different theories, mechanisms, patterns and trends which will contextualize more recent developments, and provide a pivotal point of reference on the relationship between these two variables. More specifically, this book will speak to three crucial, long-standing debates in scholarship in political sociology, social movement studies, and related fields: The effects of economic hardship on protest and social movements. The role of grievances and opportunities in social movement theory. The distinction between 'old' and 'new' movements. The chapters in this book engage with these three key debates and challenge commonly held views of political sociologists and social movement scholars on all three counts, thus allowing us to advance study in the field.