'Rise like lions after slumber': dissent, protest and (post)politics in Manchester

Abstract

This article aims to improve our understanding of postpoliticization by examining the role of 'ordinary' urban protest movements, using the example of a protest in Alexandra Park, an inner city park in Manchester. The critical literature on postpolitics has improved our understanding of exceptional, large scale protests, but we know much less about how smaller scale protests emerge and in time wind down. Our research is revealing of the post-politicising tactics of the city authorities in containing protest and of how the protesters lost momentum, focusing on contesting techno-managerial processes for consultation and undertaking scientific surveys. Whilst universalising claims were made about democratic enfranchisement, the authorities were able to counter and diffuse these