A Hybrid Strategy of Restricting Freedom of Assembly in Modern Militant Democracies. Experiences from Austria, Finland, and Sweden

This comparative study draws on empirical analysis of restrictions
on freedom of assembly implemented in national legislation and
used in practice. The study aims to identify and account for how in
consolidated democracies, authority states implement a hybrid
strategy of restricting freedom of assembly since the economic crisis
of 2008 triggered a wave of social mobilization across Europe. The
final turning point is 2019, the moment before the outbreak of the
COVID-19 pandemic. Comparative studies draw on qualitative
analysis of sources: national legislation and NGOs’ reports. This
research uncovers restrictions on public assemblies implemented in
consolidated democracy and evaluates their scope and effectiveness
in combating social groups recognized as enemies of democracy.
Moreover, it determines how they changed over time, which is
significant to explain the distinction between national legislation
and protection provisions. This comparative study contributes to the
research on the limitation of the above-mentioned civil rights and
freedoms in consolidated democracies