This book, first published in 1970, examines the thesis that demonstrations are becoming an integral an integral part of the democratic way of life. It analyses the conditions under which some demonstrations become violent and explores ways in which the incidence of such violence can be greatly reduced.

Part 1. The Rise of Demonstration Democracy 1.1 Frequency of Demonstrations 1.2. The Number of Participants 1.3. The Scope of Participation 1.4. Demonstrations as a Political Tool 1.5. The Violence of Demonstrations 1.6. The Public View of Demonstrations 1.7. The Role of Television Part 2. Functions and Dysfunctions of Democratic Demonstrations 2.1. An Analytic Orientation 2.2. A Digression into Political Theory 2.3. Comparison of Political Means: Some Functions of Demonstrations 2.4. The Dysfunctions of Demonstrations 2.5. The Cooptation Argument: Poor Sociology 2.6. Restoring Civil Disobedience to its Special Status Part 3. Responsiveness: The Key Factor 3.1. The Intricate Relationship of Responsiveness to Protest 3.2. The Role of Leadership 3.3. Participation