Since Europe has entered a time of economic turmoil in 2008, commentators have speculated about the potentially dangerous repercussions of growing economic hardship and rising inequality, a radicalization of politics, and an increasing disconnect between the population and the political elite. However, both the economic fallout and the political conflicts related to the crisis are highly diverse across European democracies. This diversity calls for a differentiated perspective, which takes the full cross-sectional and longitudinal variance into account. Participants in this panel therefore focus on a comparative assessment of the impact of and political reactions to the Great Recession and its long-term effects. On the one hand, panelists study the shifts on the demand side of politics, i.e. whether potentials and triggers of political protest have changed during the crisis. More precisely, specific patterns of economic inequality and their relationship with the intensity of different kinds of political conflicts are under scrutiny. On the other hand, shifts in the power constellations and responsiveness of the political elite are examined. This part of the panel aims at revealing, which political forces have profited from the economic and political instability and how – if at all - the political elite has responded to the citizens' grievances. Hence, the panel seeks to reach more detailled conclusions on economic grievances, political reactions and the relationship between the two in times of crisis.