The Protester (Time)

After two decades of relative peace and prosperity, Kurt Anderson notes, the protester has once again become the defining voice of the day and, subsequently, TIME’s Person of the Year. Anderson writes, ” ‘Massive and effective street protest’ was a global oxymoron until — suddenly, shockingly — starting exactly a year ago, it became the defining trope of our times. And the protester once again became a maker of history.” He goes on to tell the story of how, in Egypt, in Russia, in the United States, in Mexico, protesters have taken to the streets over the past 12 months to express a deep loathing and anger at governments, at financial systems, and at the people who run them.