The evolution of contention in Spain (2000-2017): an analysis of protest cycles

Abstract

This article provides an overview of contentious politics in 21st century Spain using Protest Event Analysis (PEA) based on a large new database (n = 4,062). The analysis identifies different cycles of protest and discusses how they have changed and been continued in the action taken by social movements. While protest before the Great Recession often revolved around global conflicts, since then it has tended to be concentrated at the national and local level in terms of spaces, demands, and objectives. While political parties and trade unions are still important, their actions run in parallel to the emergence of new actors and the revitalisation of others in a movement/counter-movement dynamic. The article analyses these and other characteristics of protest cycles.