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 data and analysis to map the variety of actors and actor coalitions, as well as the interplay of repression/concessions/support and mobilization/cooperation/mediation.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 350 pages
Publication date: 04 May 2023
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 participant groups: 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 long-standing and emerging research questions related to political conflict in a manner that balances theoretical insights with empirical evidence. Through a meticulous examination of these contentious episodes, the book sheds light on the complex dynamics, strategies, and outcomes of political contention, providing valuable insights into the dynamics of power, resistance, and change in contemporary societies.

This innovative approach to the study of political conflict offers a valuable contribution to the field, offering a fresh perspective that can help scholars and policymakers better understand and respond to the challenges posed by contentious politics in the modern world.

ISBN-13: 9781009002011