Negotiating order: Strategies adopted by Belgian police officers during pre-protest meetings

• In Event: POLWG Panel 22. Public Order Policing: Public and Police perceptions, pre-protest strategies and the role of social media

Abstract

While scholarly attention has largely focused on the frontline policing of protests, less is known about possible negotiation processes that take place before demonstrations occur. Yet, how protests unfold in public spaces is often shaped long before they begin. This presentation examines how Belgian local police officers engage with protest organisers in preparatory meetings, where key decisions on routes, timing, and behavioural expectations are made.

Drawing on ethnographic observations of police meetings with organisers and interviews with police commanders and intelligence officers, the presentation explores how law enforcement develops particular frames of social movements and protest organisers. These frames are shaped by multiple factors, including the movement’s organisational structure, its claims for social change, and past interactions between the protesters and the police.

The presentation then examines how these frames influence police negotiation strategies during pre-protest meetings. Special attention is given to how officers seek to shape protest behaviour in ways that align with public order concerns and the different strategies they employ to achieve this. These strategies range from invoking strict legal or political rules and agreements to more informal approaches, such as building rapport through personal contacts or humour. By uncovering how police construct narratives around protests and engage in negotiation, this presentation contributes to a deeper understanding of pre-emptive protest management practices and their implications for the right to protest.

Author

• Donatella Van Biervliet, KU Leuven