8 Against whom? Protest movements around the world have a clear target- their own national governments. This is a common theme since the national government is the legitimate policy-making institution responsible to citizens. Other frequent targets include elites, the political and economic system, political parties, the military and police, and corporations. It is clear that they are targeted by protesters because they wield great power in societies. Demonstrations, whether on the streets or online, continue to be powerful tools for people to convey their messages and demands to those in power. Figure 6: Targets of protests 2021-2022 Source: Authors’analysis of world protests in media sources 2021-2022, percentage of protests designating the target, each protest can have multiple targets and is counted yearly when ongoing, see: https://worldprotests.org/ How do they protest? Marches and protest assemblies remain the most common forms of protest globally, with over half of all protests worldwide incorporating one or both of these methods. However, in recent years there has been a significant uptick in internet activism as a form of protest, with the use of digital platforms now being the third most popular method of protest. Other forms of protest such as civil disobedience, direct action, and blockades are also increasingly being utilized; they are found in nearly one third of protests. While some rise in internet activism can be attributed to the pandemic­induced lockdowns, the continued prevalence of marches and protest assemblies despite these restrictions highlights their enduring significance as a means of expressing dissent.