ABSTRACT
The chapters in this volume have detailed a great variety of situations. As far as the empirical translation of the crisis into concrete manifestations of discontent is concerned, we could insist on the fact that each society and its protests are unique. Instead, we seek general trends and patterns. How, then, should we move from empirical details to future research paths worth exploring? We propose two basic elements. First, we stress the influence of capitalism on protests in conditions of austerity. Is there a clear link between the current crisis of capitalism and the emergence of new families of protest? To what extent are there material foundations to such protests? How has the economic crisis concretely affected different struggles? What do we need to do analytically to develop this line of inquiry? Second, the contemporary crisis of representative democracy has its counterpart in the space of protest, as some contributors of this volume have shown. How have profound changes in the relationship between, on the one hand, individuals and groups and, on the other hand, formal politics structured today’s protest movements?
