Resisting the Backlash: Street Protest in Italy

This book analyses contemporary street protests in Italy during a period marked by economic crisis, political instability and the rise of right-wing backlash politics. Drawing on protest surveys, interviews with activists and original event data, it investigates who participates in protests and why, examining the roles of grievances, socio-economic inequalities, gender, generations and network dynamics in shaping political mobilisation. The study also explores protesters’ attitudes toward political institutions, democracy and European integration, highlighting how progressive social movements resist authoritarian, nationalist and anti-democratic tendencies. By combining quantitative and qualitative approaches, the book contributes to broader debates on social movements, political participation and contentious politics in times of crisis.