The Real Story

Do Protests Still Work?

07.13.2018 - By BBC World ServicePlay

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Donald Trump has arrived in England but he's not getting the red carpet treatment a US president might expect. Big protests are planned in London, featuring a march to Trafalgar Square and a six metre high balloon of Donald Trump as a snarling orange baby. The protests may let people vent their feelings about the US president’s controversial style and policies, but few expect much change as a result. So, while protests still occupy a prominent place in the drama of democracy, do they really achieve anything anymore? How have cultural forces and social media changed the way protests are organised? And can non-violent protests still force elected politicians to change? Presenter: Ritula Shah

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