Beyond the usual suspects? New participants in anti-austerity protests in Greece

Following the emergence of mass protest against the austerity measures taken by the Greek government in 2010, the question arises to what extent the protests are just mobilizing the ‘usual suspects’ of left-wing trade union activists or a new protest generation. Using a general population survey carried out in December 2010, we find that almost one third of the adult Greek population had taken part in anti-austerity protests, but less than one in five had been first time protesters. Comparing new with veteran protesters but also non-protesters, we find that new protest recruits do not fit the expected pattern in many respects. The Greek protest movement has re-mobilized many of the ‘usual suspects’ but it also includes first timers as ‘apprentice’ protesters, particularly in demonstrations, who differ markedly from veteran participants