The Political Sociology of the Corona Protests
Contentious Non-Compliance with Pandemic Response
Project management: Oliver Nachtwey and Robert Schäfer Project management: Johannes Truffer, Arthur Buckenleib, Nadine Frei, Max Kaufmann Project duration: 1.4.2023-31.3.2026 Funded by: Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) as part of NRP 80 SNSF ID: 408040_210122
About the research project
The rules of conduct enacted during the COVID-19 pandemic to protect vulnerable population groups met with protest in several, although not all, European countries. In German-speaking countries in particular, the protest movement that subsequently emerged proved to be strong and long-lasting. New, everyday forms of protest emerged, such as the refusal to wear masks or to be vaccinated. We define this ensemble of everyday protests against the pandemic regime as "Contentious Non-Compliance" (CNC). CNC can be understood as a form of contention that integrates practices of resistance against behavioral instructions to a way of life. In contrast to structurally-induced forms of non-compliance (which are caused, for example, by a lower level of education, language barriers or discriminatory experiences), CNC has a decidedly political character. The research project "Contentious Non-Compliance with Pandemic Response" continues the extensive corona protest research at the Chair of Social Structure Analysis.
Methods
The comparative research project is divided into two parts, an international and an interregional comparative part. The project follows a mixed-methods design.
In the international-comparative part, the structural conditions of the countries with pronounced protest movements are analyzed on the one hand, and the political process factors that influenced the course of the protests are examined on the other. The comparative method provides important starting points that are able to explain the very uneven nature of international protests.
In the interregional comparative part, the political opportunity structures and the temporal course of the protests are analyzed in the Swiss case on the one hand and in-depth case studies with different municipalities in Switzerland on the other. The aim is to focus on the regional aspects of CNC.
Background to the investigation
The project was funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation with CHF 490,044 as part of the national research program NRP80 entitled "COVID-19 in society". The project starts on 01.04.2023 and has been approved for three years.
Preliminary studies for the research project
Evaluation of the study
Middle class, older and academically educated - these are the typical characteristics of members of the protest movement against the coronavirus measures in Germany and Switzerland. Opponents are heterogeneous in themselves, but open to the right and strongly alienated from the political system. These are the preliminary findings of an empirical sociological research project at the University of Basel, which is based on the evaluation of over 1,150 questionnaires.
Further information: Prof. Dr. Oliver Nachtwey, e-mail: sozialstruktur-gw@clutterunibas.ch
About the research project
In the research project "Political Sociology of Corona Protests", the current corona protests in Switzerland and Germany are being empirically investigated at the Institute of Sociology at the University of Basel. The aim of the study is to identify the motivation, values and beliefs of participants in rallies, actions and demonstrations that are directed against the corona-related measures, such as the obligation to wear masks. The research project thus focuses on a growing community and its criticism of the existing measures. To this end, direct contact will be made with those involved in corona protests in order to question and represent their views.
Methods
In order to comprehensively investigate these new protests, an empirical approach (mixed methods) is being pursued in the research project. This includes the following methods:
- Quantitative online survey: A quantitative online survey is intended to reach as many people as possible who can express their motivation, beliefs and personal opinions through this simple instrument. Previous research was carried out to identify topics associated with the corona protests. A number of statements mentioned in the media about the movement were included in the survey. The quantitative survey has now been completed. The results will be analyzed in the coming weeks and published on this page.
- Ethnographic observations: Using ethnographic observations at demonstrations and rallies, the main focus is on recording and then describing the mood and key issues. This also includes discussions with participants in protests on the ground in order to make the concerns of the research project known at the same time.
- Qualitative interviews: In-depth qualitative interviews will be conducted with some of the participants in these protests, as well as with sympathizers who have not previously been to demonstrations. Open-ended guided interviews will be conducted, recorded and then transcribed. In accordance with the standards of qualitative social research, the interviews are strictly anonymized, i.e. the identity of the interviewees cannot be determined afterwards.
- Document analysis: Another focus is on existing documents such as flyers, websites and books that are considered relevant in the corona protest community. This should also make it clear which content and sources of information are available to the participants in the corona protests and are discussed within the community.
Background to the investigation
This is a research project at the Institute of Sociology at the University of Basel under the direction of Prof. Dr. Oliver Nachtwey, Dr. Robert Schäfer and Dr. Nadine Frei. The project is based at the department of Prof. Dr. Oliver Nachtwey. The data collected will only be used for scientific purposes and will not be passed on to third parties. The research follows the strictest data protection criteria.