Aspects regarding the expression of politics in the public space. The tradition of "Monday night" protests in Eastern Germany Cover Image

Aspecte privind exprimarea politicii în spațiul public. Tradiția protestelor ”de luni seara” din Germania de Est
Aspects regarding the expression of politics in the public space. The tradition of "Monday night" protests in Eastern Germany

Author(s): Miroslav Stanici
Subject(s): Civil Society, Governance
Published by: Editura Academiei Române
Keywords: Protest; Repertoire; Radicals; interaction ritual; Dramaturgy of movement;

Summary/Abstract: In this paper I will study the protests which took place every single Monday in Eastern Germany. This tradition of protest has roots in the year 1989 in the city of Leipzig when the protesters went out to the streets whit the message “Wir sind das Volk”/ “We are the people”. The protest was peaceful but very decisive in the bigger process of Germany’s unification. This tradition of Monday protests returned in the past years in Eastern Germany. The City of Halle from the land of Saxony Anhalt is the new scene of this protest. This time around the protest its organized by the Germany’s far right whit the participation of the members of PEGIDA ((Patriotische Europäer gegen die Islamisierung des Abendlandes) and also other kind of members belonging to ultra nationalist groups. This kind of protest has triggered single time a reply from the anti radicalism movement Members of the socialist and ecologist parties are involved in this counter demonstration, along with young independent protesters and left-wingers. Both protests happened in the same time and the same place, being separated by a tight buffer zone measuring just ten meters. Law Enforcement troops prefer to observe from aside the groups.In my exposure I will introduce the method of observation. I will use also the interview method to approach my subject, but I will also engage with some elements of Erving Goffman’s theory of dramaturgy. I will develop an analysis of this protest identifying the major themes of debate. I will also take into account the strategies of both groups and I will look also in the repertoire of messages. I propose the following research hypothesis: although the two groups are politically antagonistic and have opposed values, they have similar behaviors.

  • Issue Year: LIX/2020
  • Issue No: LIX, 2
  • Page Range: 555-565
  • Page Count: 11
  • Language: Romanian
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