Contesting Austerity and Free Trade in the EU: Protest Diffusion in Complex Media and Political Arenas

The book explores the diffusion of protest against austerity and free trade agreements in the EU following the 2008 economic crisis, highlighting the complex factors that influence protest diffusion, such as strategic agency, media practices, and the politicization of issues.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 178 pages
Publication date: 01 August 2022
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

The book delves into the widespread dissemination of protests against austerity and free trade agreements during the surge of contention that engulfed the EU following the 2008 economic crisis. It examines how these protests emerged as a manifestation of broader dissatisfaction with the constitutionalization of economic policy and the insulation of economic decisions from democratic scrutiny. Furthermore, the book explores the distinct politicization of these issues and the propagation of protests across Western and Eastern Europe, a region that has often been overlooked in studies of the post-crisis turmoil. Julia Rone underscores that the process of protest diffusion is intricate and multifaceted, with its success or failure contingent upon the strategic actions and media strategies employed by key political actors, including bottom-up activists, trade unions, political parties, NGOs, intellectuals, and mainstream media. This resource is of immense value to media and communications students and scholars with a keen interest in activism, political economy, social movement studies, and protest movements.

Weight: 360g
Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367533465