Protest for Change: Direct Action & Society

A controversial form of political campaigning, direct action seeks to confront society, trigger debate and incite change. While some defend its validity as a peaceful and vital part of a truly liberal democracy, others decry the impact of the disruption caused, and the cost to public services.

This high profile panel of speakers represented a range of lenses through which to explore the effectiveness of direct action, from pioneering figure in women’s rights activism Helen Pankhurst, academic and broadcaster Tom Shakespeare through to the contemporary environmentalist movement, Extinction Rebellion.