The politics of protests
Summary
This episode examines the rise of street politics in major democracies, featuring guest Graeme Finlay from UCD. The discussion covers student-led protests in France, Spain, and India, analyzing how these movements challenge established political orders and address issues like housing crises and voter roll purges. Finlay explores the democratic legitimacy of protests as a "safety valve" between elections, contrasting France’s republican protest tradition with the unique co-optation of Spanish housing demonstrations by Prime Minister Sanchez.
Topics discussed
Introduction: Politics moving to the streets in France, Spain, India
Guest introduction and the democratic nature of protests
Protests as a safety valve and expression of dissent
Balancing the right to protest with public order
Legal restrictions, proportionality, and authoritarian repression
The broken social contract and youth anger across Europe
French protest culture and the symbolism of the Bastille
Spain: Sanchez co-opting housing protests for snap election
India: The Cockroach Janta Party and student resistance
Protecting democracy against undemocratic government measures
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