London: a capital of protest politics

It is sometimes forgotten that London has been the scene of numerous demonstrations, from the Chartists in the 1830s and 1840s to students in November 2010. Many of these demonstrations are quite similar since they follow the same route, often including Trafalgar Square and Hyde Park, for example. However, it will be suggested that new routes have appeared in recent years, modifying London’s geography of protest. This change is due mainly to the spreading of anarchist-inspired ideas concerning direct action. The new geography of protest is unpredictable and questions the traditional division of space in the capital.