Popular Uprisings and Mass Protests: Lessons of Success and Failure from Recent History

In the late 20th and early 21st centuries, the world has seen extraordinary levels of popular unrest. At times, it has served to block authoritarian regimes and at other times it has been in service to them or failed in its opposition. This set of four lectures will examine eight examples of mass protests in recent history – four that were largely successful and four that were not. The four successful examples will include: the Jasmine Revolution in Tunisia (2010-2011); Tahrir Square in Egypt (2011); Poland’s anti-gov’t protests (2023); and the South Korean “Self-Coup” protests (2024). Failed examples include Tiananmen Square (China, 1989); the Russian Navalny protests (2011–2012, 2021); the Gezi Park Protests in Turkey (2013); and Iran’s Green Movement (2009). Each case provides powerful insight into the limits and possibilities of popular protest here in 2025.