Narrative mediation of the occupy movement: A case study of Stockholm and Latvia

The economic crisis of 2007/2008 constitutes a moment of rupture not only for the financial markets, but also in terms of political engagement. In reaction to the crisis thousands took to the streets and squares in order to express their critique of the current political and economic system. The critical juncture also highlighted the role of media technologies for political organization and participation, which is reflected in comments on protests related to the financial crisis often over-emphasizing digital social media. This chapter provides an alternative way of engaging with crisis-related protest that moves beyond notions such as networked protests and connected action. Instead the chapter suggests reinvigorating more traditional methods of narrative analysis and critical hermeneutics in order to make sense of representations of protest mobilizations in reaction to the financial crisis. The financial crisis and protest that emerged in response serve as backdrop in order to further the theoretical argument about what role narrative mediation plays in the construction of social reality.