ABSTRACT
The chapter explores the relationship between social movements and an institutional politics that we describe as characterised by forms of right-wing backlash, given the increasing electoral support and institutional influence of right-wing actors, focusing attention to the resistance to it by progressive social movements. Recent research has noted how, even in those countries most affected by the Great Recession, political grievances are strong determinants of protest participation. Hence, the analysis of the positions of protesters in relation to political institutions, including trust and satisfaction, but also their interest in politics and sense of collective action efficacy are found to be fundamental in order to understand the potential effects that the backlash has had on the political attitudes of the protestors who resisted it. Visions of politics are subsequently connected to action repertoires and general values. The empirical analysis confirms that movement activists resisting the backlash are more critical of existing institutions than common citizens, while at the same time also showing higher levels of interest in politics and of confidence in the effects of mobilisations. This tendency seems strengthened in times of backlash, as growing dissatisfaction for what is perceived as a threat to acquired rights requires an even stronger counterbalance in terms of a sense of empowerment. Activists are in fact more mistrustful of institutions than the general population, with the national government, the banks, the political parties, and the police emerging as the least trusted bodies. They are also largely dissatisfied with the general functioning of democracy both in Italy and the EU, and with the ways in which institutions (particularly the national government) manage the issues, they care about most. At the same time, and notwithstanding the perceived backlash in the national institutions, Italian protesters tend to rely on political strategies: the activists we surveyed expressed high levels of interest in politics, calling for the strengthening and democratising of those very institutions they mistrust (especially at the EU level), while they are also confident about the efficacy of collective action. In terms of action repertoires, given the additional perception of a closing down of institutional opportunities, with the radical right in power or near to it, they rely mostly on extra-institutional, direct forms of participation, and engage in the construction of concrete alternatives. Far from being motivated by single issues, they are sensitive to a broad spectrum of problems, fighting for both social and civil rights. By distinguishing between slightly committed and highly committed activists, we note that the combination of mistrust in institutional politics and confidence in collective action was stronger among the most committed groups. This suggests that, at a time of backlash, participation in protests strengthens some general attitudes that favour further mobilisation.
