Throughout history, protests have been a key tactic for activists and movements to express discontent and push for change. Today, however, the democratic space for protests and collective mobilisation is rapidly shrinking.
From more forceful and frequent crackdowns on protesting to introducing new legislation to restrict protest and prosecute individuals, governments across the world, including the UK, are increasingly finding new ways to suppress protest and silence critical voices.
This panel will discuss why protests matter, what the shrinking of democratic space means for social movements and activists, and what can be done to protect freedom of speech and the right to protest.
The event is co-hosted by the Atlantic Fellows for Social and Economic Equity and the LSE International Inequalities Institute.
Speaker
Sam Nadel
Sam Nadel is a PhD candidate at the Department of Social Policy at LSE. He is also a Director of the Social Change Lab, which focuses on studying the impact of protest movements on public opinion, public discourse, and policy. Sam has held a range of roles with human rights and international development organisations including Amnesty International UK and Oxfam Great Britain.
Speaker
Pascale Frazer-Carroll
Pascale Frazer-Carroll is an Atlantic Fellow for Social and Economic Equity and a campaigner and social impact director, who has a background in campaigning, storytelling, and capacity building for grassroots activists and organisers.
Speaker
Dr Richard Martin
Richard Martin is an Assistant Professor of Law at the LSE Law School. He conducts socio-legal and doctrinal research at the intersection of criminal justice, human rights and public law. Richard’s monograph, Policing Human Rights (OUP, 2021) was joint runner up of the Inner Temple Book Prize – New Author’s Prize, and shortlisted for the Peter Birks Prize for Outstanding Legal Scholarship and the Hart-SLSA Book Prize for Early Career Academics.
Chair
Professor Armine Ishkanian
Armine Ishkanian is the Executive Director of the Atlantic Fellows for Social and Economic Equity programme and Professor in the Department of Social Policy at the London School of Economics and Political Science. Her research examines the relationship between civil society, democracy, development, and social transformation.
Banner Image: Photo by James Eades on Unsplash