The price of protest

Many liberal democracies are presently dismantling the foundations of deep democracy through construction a juridified security framework. The expansion exceptions that privilege private property interests small elite above human rights promote democratic accountability such as freedom assembly and expression has accelerated this anti-democratic tilt. legislative designation «critical infrastructure» insulates certain sectors economy from protests. Security safeguard normal functioning effectively insulate fossil fuel sector political pressure due to status quo dependency. Fossil fuels targeted by protester designated critical infrastructure precisely because economies dependent on them. use extreme fines incapacitate disobedient citizens risk mitigation favors holders against groups overwhelmingly young often Indigenous in North America. This paper maps out tendency towards harsher economic penalties for protest U.S. Canada argues transition protesters relies part ramping up category (the kind) crime falls into which could potentially expand number sanctioned persons exponentially.Received: 12 July 2022 Accepted: 17 April 2023