The Study of Cycles of Protest: Approaches to the Case of Spain

Abstract

This chapter studies secondary data (Annuals of the Ministry of the Interior) in order to relate protest events in Spain with those occurring in the rest of the world, using the model applied by Tarrow (Protesta Social. Hacer, Barcelona, 2002) in the case of Italian protests, and Herrera (América Latina Hoy 48:165–189, 2008), in the Argentinian protest. The hypothesis is that the Indignado Movement in Spain is the local expression of a global movement, framed within the Anti-Austerity Movement. On the basis of the concept of the “cycle of protests”, the frequency, intensity, sectoral spread and demands put forward have been analysed to determine the existence of a cycle of protests in Spain, in which the Indignado protest developed.