Introduction

In this introductory chapter, the editors of this volume discuss the legal, political and social context in which protest takes place and define key concepts and principles. In setting out the contextual background for the volume, they note that there has been a global rise in protest along with an increasing repression of protest, both in authoritarian regimes and in democratic societies. As the right to protest faces growing challenges globally, the chapter notes that there is a pressing need to engage with the law, the politics and the lived realities of dissent. In addition to this context, this introductory chapter explains the purposes of the book, its coverage and structure. It notes that the book examines not only how protest is protected but also how it is experienced, regulated and resisted.