Contentious Episodes in the Age of Austerity: Studying the Dynamics of Government-Challenger Interactions

This book provides a novel approach to analyzing contentious politics by focusing on the interactions between governments, challengers, and third parties in responses to austerity policies. It develops a rigorous conceptual framework and uses a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods to study sixty contentious episodes in twelve European countries. The approach aims to provide a deeper understanding of political conflict and to answer research questions related to political conflict in a rigorous and systematic way.

Format: Hardback
Length: 350 pages
Publication date: 11 November 2021
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

This book offers a groundbreaking approach that bridges the gap between narrative approaches and conventional protest event analysis, drawing upon extensive data and comprehensive analysis of sixty contentious episodes across twelve European countries. Focusing specifically on responses to austerity policies in the aftermath of the Great Recession (2008-2015), the authors develop a rigorous conceptual framework that centers on the intricate interactions between three key participants in contentious politics: governments, challengers, and third parties. By employing this approach, political scientists gain the ability to map not only the diverse range of actors and actor coalitions that drove the dynamics in each episode but also the intricate interplay of repression, concessions, support, mobilization, cooperation, and mediation on the part of the actors involved in the contention.

The methodology employed in this study ensures both conceptual depth and statistical rigor, enabling researchers to address old and new research questions related to political conflict in a manner that balances theoretical insights with empirical evidence. The book's innovative approach sheds light on the complex dynamics and mechanisms that shape political contention, providing valuable insights for scholars, policymakers, and activists alike.

In conclusion, this book represents a significant contribution to the field of political science, offering a novel and insightful perspective on contentious politics and its aftermath. By exploring the interactions between governments, challengers, and third parties, it provides a valuable framework for understanding the dynamics of political conflict and the strategies employed by different actors to navigate and influence these complex dynamics.

Weight: 670g
Dimension: 158 x 236 x 29 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781316519011