Tracing Anti-deportation Protests: A Longitudinal Comparison of Austria, Germany and Switzerland

Abstract

Objective: Trace and characterize anti-deportation protests in Austria, Germany, and Switzerland between 1993 and 2013. Methods: Systematic analysis of media reports of anti-deportation protests. We manually coded 6419 article about 986 protest events. Results: The frequency of anti-deportation protest has increased in Austria and Germany, but not so in Switzerland. Many different kinds of actors are involved in anti-deportation protests, and most commonly these are actors who protest on behalf of those threatened with deportation. These actors come from across the political spectrum, and protest is predominantly local in nature. In the three countries, repertoires of protest vary, but demonstrations are the most common form. In 59% of cases, the focus is on policy reform, and in 41% of cases the focus is on a specific deportation. Conclusion: Much of the protest against deportations seems to take place relatively independent of a transnational movement that may have gained traction in the past few years.