Crisis, distrust and the new face of protest in Europe - Sociology

Public Autumn Series 2026

Europe is facing choices it hasn't had to confront in a generation. As Ireland holds the Presidency of the Council of the EU, the School of Social Sciences and Philosophy brings together leading voices from Economics, Philosophy, Sociology and Political Science. Across four evenings, we ask what Europe stands for, how it is responding, and what the decisions being made now will mean for all of us.

15 Oct 2026

'Crisis, distrust and the new face of protest in Europe'

🗓️ Thursday 15 October 2026
🕖 7.00–8.30pm
📍 Synge Theatre, Arts Building, Trinity College Dublin
🎟️ Free - registration required
🎙️ Dr Larissa Meier, Assistant Professor in Conflict Sociology, Trinity College Dublin

Overview

Europe has seen wave after wave of protest in recent years. But what do these movements actually have in common?

From anti-austerity campaigns to anti-lockdown demonstrations, these movements share one thing: a deep distrust of political institutions. But distrust can pull in very different directions. Sociologist Larissa Meier examines what connects these movements and what divides them. While some push toward more open and democratic politics, others pull toward exclusion and authoritarianism. What does that tell us about the state of democracy in Europe today?

About the Speaker

Larissa Meier is Assistant Professor in Conflict Sociology at Trinity College Dublin. Her research explores the causes and consequences of contemporary political conflicts, with a particular focus on social movements, political violence and civil resistance. She holds a PhD in Political Science and Sociology from the Scuola Normale Superiore in Florence and has held positions at Bielefeld University in Germany. She has also worked for international organisations including the OSCE and UNDP, and her work has been published in Social Problems, Government & Opposition and Perspectives on Politics.

More From The Series

Europe: Values and Choices. Four free public talks, four consecutive Thursdays this September and October.

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