Research project | Research workshop Corona protests

The Corona Protests Research Workshop is an interdisciplinary cooperation project between the University of Vienna and the Sigmund Freud Private University with the aim of analysing the movements and protests that have emerged in connection with the measures to contain the pandemic, as well as their organisational forms.

The pandemic itself, but also the measures implemented by politicians to combat Covid-19, represent a new situation and challenge for many people and for society as a whole. The declaration of a pandemic is causing great uncertainty and fear in many places and is bringing issues such as the risk of infection and job loss to the fore. In addition, social and individual responsibility in the area of tension between health, the economy and personal freedom are being negotiated both politically and in the media as well as in everyday life during this time, particularly as a result of the two lockdowns.

However, the political measures are not shared and supported by everyone. Some sections of society see them as an unlawful restriction of the population’s room for manoeuvre, question the expertise communicated by the state and the scientific community, or develop their own channels for communicating knowledge.

If you are interested in talking to us about your motives in an interview, or if you have any other questions about our project, please contact coronaproteste.soziologie@univie.ac.at

Project team
  • Markus Brunner (Social psychologist and sociologist, Sigmund Freud University)
  • Antje Daniel (Protest researcher, Institute for International Development, University of Vienna)
  • Florian Knasmüller (Social psychologist, Sigmund Freud University)

Former members:

Method

The research workshop is dedicated to these topics and analyses the “politics of the street” against the political measures. The current protests, actions and networks are analysed using a mixed-methods approach. This approach works with both quantitative and qualitative social science methods, i.e. with surveys, documents, observations and interviews.

Question(s) and hypotheses

The research network uses quantitative and qualitative data to investigate questions about 1) the demographic composition of the protests and 2) the political attitudes of the protesters. Furthermore, 3) forms of protest and symbolic representation at the demonstrations and 4) the psychological functions of protest participation will be analysed.

Project duration

11/2020 – 12/2025

Publications

Corona protests research workshop (2021). Corona protest report. Narratives – Motives – Attitudes. https://doi.org/10.31235/osf.io/25qb3

Corona protests research workshop. (2023). Corona-Protest-Report II: A follow-up study. https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:0168-ssoar-86944-4

Daniel, A., Brunner, M., & Knasmüller, F. (2023). Does Gender Play a Role? A Gendered Frame Analysis of the Pandemic Skeptic Protests in Austria. German Politics and Society, 41(2), 61-79. 10.3167/gps.2023.410204

Brunner, M., Daniel, A., Knasmüller, F., Maile, F., & Von Zieglauer, F. (2023). Women at the Corona protests. Why do they care? In U. Repnik, D. Schulz-Zak, & K. Hametner (Eds.), Women’s health and the pandemic. What next? (S. 17-20). Vienna: City of Vienna.

Knasmüller, F., Brunner, M., & Daniel, A. (2024). The Corona protests in Austria. Reflections on the Aftermath of an Authoritarian Revolt. Research Journal Social Movements, 37(1), 6-16. doi: 10.1515/fjsb-2024-0002

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