Social movements and the state: Thoughts on the policing of protest

Abstract

The relation between social movements and the state is a crucial theme for the understanding of collective action. Long neglected, it acquired a new relevance with the development of the“political process” approach to social movements (Tilly 1978; McAdam 1982). Within this approach, the“political opportunity structure” (POS) (Eisinger 1973; McAdam 1982; Tarrow 1983) is the most inclusive concept we have for dealing with the external, political conditions for protest. In this chapter, while referring to political opportunities for social movements in Italy and the Federal Republic of Germany after World War II, I focus on protest policing as one single variable. I consider protest policing an important barometer of the political opportunities available for social movements, and suggest it has an important effect on action repertoires. Looking at the evolution of policing styles and protest forms of action, I stress the importance of framing processes. I discuss some advantages of a research on protest policing and summarize the relevant information on the evolution of protest policing in Italy and Germany, comparing the historical evolution of policing styles in the two countries. After this description, I develop a model for the study of causes and consequences of protest policing, and propose some hypotheses on the political opportunities and constraints on protest policing, looking at the more stable political opportunities, the more volatile configuration of power, and police preferences, as well as the potential effects of policing strategies.