Commentary
Crowd Counting Consortium: Trump-Era Themes in U.S. Protests
Under the Trump administration, what did Americans protest about?
Civil Protest
Protest is the bedrock of democracy. But why do people take to the streets, and how do protestors achieve change? At the Ash Center, we’re working to answer these questions.
Related Programs
From the Boston Tea Party and the U.S. civil rights movement to contemporary climate action demonstrations, civil protest is a fundamental tool for influencing political change. While protest movements are an indelible part of contemporary political life, little is often understood about what motivates people to take to the streets and how they achieve nonviolent political goals.
Our scholars analyze protest movements, learn from protestors themselves, and develop tools to help understand why some protests succeed and others fail.
The Latest News, Research, and Resources
Feature
How Authoritarian Police Thrive in Democracy
Kennedy School Assistant Professor Yanilda González delves into the roots of police violence in democratic countries in her latest book.
Video
Book Talk — Authoritarian Police in Democracy: Challenges for Latin America and the US
The Ash Center and Carr Center for Human Rights hosted an event for the launch of Authoritarian Police in Democracy: Contested Security in Latin America by HKS Assistant Professor Yanilda María González.
Video
Saving Our Own Lives: Grassroots Responses to COVID-19 Around the Globe
To what extent have these organizations proven better equipped to deal with the pandemic response, and what are the challenges that these associations face when organizing in the age of COVID-19? In addition, how can they seize this moment to turn their organizing into power and influence in political and economic life?