The criminalization of protests and democracy in Western Europe

What is the course about?

This course will take an in-depth look at the responses of the British and French governments to various protests that have marked each country in recent years, and will particularly question the increasing criminalisation of the act of protesting. It will also take a historical perspective to the links between democracy and protests, questioning how that link works today in relation to these policies today.

What will we cover?

- The contested nature of democracy and its various definitions
- The different ways in which the link between the right to protest and democracy can be understood historically
- How these debates around democracy and the right to protest echo in the political treatment of protests today,
- The specific policies and discourses deployed around protests in recent years in France and the UK.

What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...

- Contribute to debates around the idea of democracy and the role of protests, both from a theoretical and a historical perspective
- Critically analyse policies and discourses around protests
- Understand the processes of criminalisation of political protests in France and the UK
- Reflect on the contemporary challenges to democracy in ‘liberal democracies’.

What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?

The course is at an introductory level and is suitable for those new to the subject as well as those who have some familiarity with the topics to be covered. A good grasp of English to keep up with the course and participate fully is necessary. As with most of our history and politics courses, an open mind and a willingness to listen to and think about views with which you do not always agree are more important than specific levels of skills.

How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?

The course will run in person and use a combination of lectures, backed by PowerPoint presentations, and discussions in large and small groups. Material to prepare the discussions will be available on the course website, and will include short extracts from key authors on the history between democracy, protests and policing, as well as newspapers pieces on various case studies we will be studying.

Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?

There are no additional costs, but you may wish to bring pen and paper or a digital equivalent for notetaking.

When I've finished, what course can I do next?

- HPC138: Left populism and socialism today
- HPC141: Looking beyond headlines: colonialism and contemporary conflicts.