Democracy Protests
Origins, Features, and Significance

This book presents a rich analysis of modern democracy protests globally, using qualitative and quantitative evidence to describe trends in causes and consequences.

Dawn Brancati (Author)

9781316502754, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 30 March 2017

226 pages, 43 b/w illus. 5 tables
22.7 x 15.2 x 1.4 cm, 0.35 kg

'Brancati assembles a database of the 310 'democracy protests' that occurred from 1989 to 2011, combines this with other information about the nations of the world to perform a number of quantitative analyses, and comes up with some interesting findings: that such protests are often effective, particularly if they are large; that such protests are not actually made more likely by the prevalence of Twitter and Facebook; and that economic inequality makes it more likely, not less, for protests to succeed. … her conclusions are convincing, and will be useful to all students of democratization.' J. C. Berg, CHOICE

Why do democracy protests emerge in some countries at certain times, but not in others? Why do governments accommodate these protests, undertaking sweeping reforms in some cases, and in others find ways to suppress protests? In Democracy Protests, Brancati highlights the role of economic crises in triggering protests. She argues that crises increase discontent with governments, and authoritarianism in particular, and also increase support for opposition candidates who are more likely to organize protests, especially during election periods. Economic crises are also shown to create chances for opportunists to capitalize on anti-regime sentiment and mobilize support against governments. However, if crises are severe and protests concomitantly large, governments are likely to be compelled to make accommodations with protestors, regardless of their likelihood of retaining office. Brancati's argument rests on a rich statistical analysis of the causes and consequences of democracy protests around the globe between 1989 and 2011, combined with qualitative case studies.

1. Introduction
2. Characteristics of democracy protests
3. Relating economic crises to democracy
4. Analyzing the rise of democracy protests
5. Analyzing elections as trigger events
6. Historical trends in government responses
7. Analyzing political accommodation
8. Historical trends in democratization
9. Analyzing democratization
10. Conclusion
Bibliography.

Subject Areas: Demonstrations & protest movements [JPWF], Comparative politics [JPB]