Protest and democracy: how movement parties, social movements and active citizens are reshaping Europe

This introductory chapter examines the relationship between protest and democracy in contemporary Europe, shaped by multiple crises. It highlights the ambivalent effects of these crises: they can either strengthen democracy through greater participation or contribute to illiberal trends and declining trust in institutions. The core focus is the “triple interaction” between citizens, social movements, and movement parties, seen as key to understanding democratic quality. Protest is interpreted both as a sign of active, critical citizenship and as a potential symptom of democratic dissatisfaction. The research adopts a comparative and interdisciplinary approach, linking protest and institutional arenas, analyzing the role of hybrid media, and evaluating impacts on democratic quality (participation, competition, responsiveness). Overall, this introduction argues that recent protest waves increasingly challenge not only specific policies but democracy itself, making their study crucial for understanding current political transformations in Europe.