Introduction

In the UK only around 60% of people voted in the last general election – the public doesn’t feel that politicians represent their opinions or listen to what they have to say.

Why are protests important?
What is change? Is it changing the government’s mind on a certain issue or is it about changing perceptions in society?
What different ways of protesting are there?

http://www.responsiblecitizen.co.uk/ways-of-protesting.html

Since the start of the 1900’s protests have been an important way that the public has been able to influence decisions that the government makes – many of the biggest political decisions that have been made over the past 100 years have been as the result of public protests.

Proposition:

In the past 20 years there has been no example of a public protest being successful in changing the policy of a government!

What protests have been ineffective in the UK?

Tuition fees/EMA:

Student protests against the government policy to increase university tuition fees and scrap EMA are an example of public action that seemed to have no impact upon changing the policy of a government.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-11849259
http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2010/dec/02/fourth-student-protest-fees
http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/video/2010/dec/13/educational-maintenance-allowance-protests-student-higher-education-students

What protests have been ineffective internationally?

Iraq war:

The protests against the Iraq war in 1997 were held across the world; however, this seemed to have no effect on the US led decision to go invade.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/2765041.stm

Do these examples show that protests are never effective?

http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/steve-richards/steve-richards-dont-expect-protests-to-achieve-much-2154780.html

Opposition:

Protests can achieve their aims.

Hosni Mubarak, dictator in Egypt for 30 years, was ousted by a popular uprising. Here an Egyptian describes their experience of the protests:

http://livewire.amnesty.org/2011/02/14/the-new-face-of-egypt/

However protests aren’t just about changing policy. It’s also about changing views in society and bringing certain issues to light.

Big companies like Vodafone and Boots manage to avoid tax regulations, whilst the government cuts public services. This is something that was widely unknown about until UK Uncut raised awareness about tax avoidance:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/newsnight/9383598.stm

Students get their message heard by holding large, high profile protests over tuition fees. This was effective at putting the issue on the agenda:

http://www.politics.co.uk/news/education/met-wary-ahead-of-fresh-tuition-fee-protests-$21385971.htm

Whilst tuition fees were raised, the government’s majority was cut by three quarters, showing that protests were able to lessen the support of the policy by raising awareness:

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/coalition-majority-slashed-in-tuition-fees-vote-2155568.html
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-11952449