Assingment
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SocialMovementsPPT.ppt
Conflict and Communiation
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Last class…
- What health and environmental conflict look like
Scientific decisions are complex and don’t always offer definitive answers
Perceptions (right or wrong) compete with facts pitting experts against those directly impacted
- Conflict about risks are usually about outrage
Extreme positions often result in less than optimal decisions around management
- Risk conflicts are too costly not to handle well
- Community involvement and PR are both options
Ethics, patience and dealing with conflict effectively are key
Week 10 – Social Movements and Conflict
- What are they?
- What do they have in common?
- Life cycle of a typical social movement
- Theories that try to explain them
- What makes them successful?
- Kony vs. Act-up.
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What are social movements?
Group action focused on a specific political or social issue working to achieve a specific goal
“Carry out, undo or resist social change”
Emerged with democratic political systems, education and mobility
Examples of social movements?
How many can we think of?
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1. Partner and share - examples of social movements
2. 4 min video on research that bridges these topics – “Why some social movements suceed and others don’t”
See wikipedia list
Pick a social movement you find interesting and identify three things about it that you find interesting
Share…
Dying with dignity – Physicial assisted dying
-how strong support is 77% in 2015 CMA
-role of faith – can stop others
- value vs. suffering – how is the balance struck?
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What makes a social movement successful?
- Authority vulnerable to challenge
- New, novel situation or threat that connects with a shared identity
- Ability to disseminate information
- Solidarity – ability to monitor, influence commitment/ response
Video - Why some social movements succeed
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Early Social Movements
Political rights and freedom; class based
Eg. 1769 - John Wilkes in England inspires Supporters of the Bill of Rights addressing conditions that limited life chances.
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Radical Journalist - opposed what he thought were the concessions Britain made to France after the Seven Year War - compromised already limited wealth of lower and middle class in Britain.
Charged with obscenities, stripped of right to sit in Parliament; but acted within the existing political system
Held public meetings, handed out pamphlets, organized marches
Contemporary Social Movements
Evolved from events in the 1960’s
Included the Student Movement, Anti-Vietnam, Civil Rights, Women’s and Gay Rights, Ecology, Peace
Work within established political system
Anti-authoritarian; Anti-bureaucratic
Loose, democratic, activist oriented
Overlapping, flexible, shifting membership
Actions often directed not at authority figures but other actors and institutions (military bases, oil refineries, companies, research stations)
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New Social Movements
- Shifted away from issues of class to addressing questions of identity, self actualization, lifestyle
Asked questions around identity: “What is individual self expression?” “How should we live?” and “Who do I want to be?”
Values, autonomy, and wider social development;
Seek to challenge the cultural codes of institutional power through symbolic events and emotional language;
Anthony Giddens (1992) The Transformation of Intimacy. Cambridge: Polity Press
In sociology, post-materialism is the transformation of individual values from materialist, physical and economic to new individual values of autonomy and self-expression
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Theories of Social Movements
- Deprivation Theory (Structural Strain)
social movements have their foundations among people who feel deprived of some good(s) or resource(s).
individuals who are lacking some good, service, or comfort are more likely to organize a social movement to improve (or defend) their conditions
Old Social Movements - life or death
New Social Movememt – BLM/ LGBTQ2+
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Group Work
Powerful Social Movement and Social Media Campaign -What can you tell me about this movement?
Estimated 1/2 of American young people heard about this campaign. 97 million viewed the video on Youtube
-Resulted in a US Senate decision to send special military advisors to Uganda to review the situation and what should be done about Joseph Kony
Influential Celebrity supporters
Action Kits - buttons, posters, bracelets, stickers, t-shirts
Culminating in Cover the Night - 17 participated in Vancouver
Invisible Children, Inc. is an organization founded in 2004 to bring awareness to the activities of the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) in Central Africa, and its leader, Joseph Kony.
Specifically, the group seeks to put an end to the practices of the LRA which include abductions and abuse of children, and forcing them to serve as soldiers.
To this end, Invisible Children urges the United States government to take military action in the central region of Africa.
Invisible Children also operates as a charitable organization, soliciting donations and selling merchandise to raise money for their cause.
The organization promotes its cause by dispensing films on the internet and presenting in high schools and colleges around the United States.
Talk more about the movement next class…
Theories of Social Movements
- Old Marxist Theory and NSMT
Conflicts between industrial workers and their capitalist employers in the 19th century.
In the twentieth century, conflicts regarding race, gender, environment, and other issues as they are impacted by political economic conditions.
Life – work balance of individual citizens
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New Social Movement Theories - these theories look to other motivators of collective action that are rooted in politics, ideology, and culture. In addition, NSMT focus on new definers of collective identity, like ethnicity, gender, and sexuality to understand the causal factors for collective action (Buechler, 1995).
To put in a nutshell, traditional social movement theories (many of which were grounded in Marxist ideology) focused on issues primarily related to exploitation of one societal class by another; on the other hand, NSMT focus on issues pertaining to life-work balance that pertain to individual citizens.
NSMT purport to explain the behavior of recent (post-1960s) societal movements like the women's rights movement, the environmental movement, and the anti-corporate, anti- globalization movement (Starr, 2000; Tilly, 2004).
Theories of Social Movements
- Mass society theory
social movements are made up of individuals in large societies who feel insignificant or socially detached.
Social movements provide a sense of empowerment and belonging that the movement members would otherwise not have.
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Occupy/ Tea Party/ Trump
- Outrage and indignation over government’s support of financial elites and perceptions gov’t is subservient to financial institutions
- Public argues that the Gov’t is supposed to protect them
- Gov’t argues they aren’t the banks; banks argue they aren’t the government
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Mass society, deprivation or exploitation?
Characteristics (1)
- All societies have elements of power and counter-power
- Critical event that evokes outrage and humiliation
Sparked by outrage and maintained by hope
Deterioration of living conditions and deep distrust in institutions that manage people’s lives
Manuel Castells – Networks of Outrage and Hope
Cultural/ Critical Theory perspective
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Characteristics (2)
- Highly emotional
Anger -> Fear -> Connection with others -> mobilization -> enthusiasm
Holding other trembling hands makes me less afraid
Manuel Castells – Networks of Outrage and Hope
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Characteristics (3)
- CMNS technology builds a 3rd space between local and global
Network necessary to emerge from chaos of anger
Multimodal means connecting with broad range of supporters
Manuel Castells – Networks of Outrage and Hope
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Characteristics (4)
- Urban space still necessary
Need to be seen to challenge authority
Big numbers are safer
Anyone can join just be being there
Manuel Castells – Networks of Outrage and Hope
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Characteristics (5)
- Leaderless
Not needed; decisions made in network
Centralized structure maximizes opportunities for input and involvement
Reduces threats of repression; can’t kill the root
Network protected from inside manipulation
Painfully slow…
Manuel Castells – Networks of Outrage and Hope
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Types of Social Movements
Alternative
Champions individual (often marginalized) behaviours or characteristics
Eg. LGBTQ
Reformative
Advocates gradual change to certain aspects of society
Liberalism; Socialism; Religious in nature
Eg. Women’s Suffrage Movement, Senate Reform
Redemptive
Change individual perceptions of a topic through radical action
Eg. Fundamentalist Religions and Cults
Revolutionary
Advancing exclusive competing claims to control of the state; overthrow the government
Eg. American Revolution (Conservative) and Russian (Radical)
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What type of conflict is
-Idle No More
-Quebec Separatism
-LGBTQ
-Arab Spring
Any redemptive?
Three elements of social movements
Campaigns - sustained, organized, public
Repertoire - public action includes
Creating special purpose associations and coalitions
Public meetings, demonstrations, statements
Events - processions, vigils, rallies, pamphlets (social media)
WVNC Strategies - participants publicly demonstrate Worthiness, Unity, Numbers, and Commitment
(Charles Tilly, Social Movements, 1768-2004, Boulder, CO, Paradigm Publishers, 2004 262 pp)
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Example - Occupy
How do they/ might they demonstrate WUNC?
- publicize the problems/ inequities they address; talk about the breadth of the problem; how it is relevant to everyone (99%)
- Unity - tent cities, demonstrations
- Likes, demonstrations
- Commitment - tenacity in actiion
Lifecycle of a Social Movement
- Emerges
- Coalesces
- Bureaucratizes
- Fails/ Succeeds/ Coopted/ Repressed/
Goes Mainstream
- Declines
Social Media and Social Movements
Impacted the speed, reach, and effectiveness of campaigns
Tool to advocate, educate, and problem solve
Virtual movements (Coffee Party) or another way to mobilize (Green Peace)
Symbols and objectives of membership are often polysemic
have multiple meanings and broad appeal,
Imprecision reflects the broad range of people that get involved
Wide base reflects appreciation of alliances, democracy and acceptance
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How to create a grassroots movement using social networking - corporate instructional video used to generate internet advertising (irony here)
Theories of Social Movements
- Framing perspective
to successfully mobilize individuals, they must develop an injustice frame, a collection of ideas and symbols that illustrate both how significant the problem is, as well as what the movement can do to alleviate it,
Framing processes includes three separate components:
Diagnostic frame: the movement organization frames what is the problem or what they are critiquing
Prognostic frame: the movement organization frames what is the desirable solution to the problem
Motivational frame: the movement organization frames a "call to arms" by suggesting and encouraging that people take action to solve the problem
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Look at two social movements and consider the different levels of success they achieved. Gay Rights movement vs. Kony 2012
First watch video – What makes social movements work?
Emotionally engage people
Act –up/ LGBTQ Rights
“How we got Gay” – CBC Doc Zone
- 1965 – first gay protest in the US
- 1969 – decriminalization in Canada
- 1969 – Stonewall Riots – fought back against police brutality – growing protest
- 1981 – Toronto Bath House Arrests spark riots
Protests overwhelm police forces
AIDS Crisis – Act Up
- 1981 emergence of AIDS brings out hatred and progress stopped
- Slow response to treating victims and controlling disease (6 years)
- Galvanizes the gay community
- Identify need to out, known, and active
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"Living with AIDS in this country is like living through a war that's happening only for those people in the trenches.
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"Every time a shell explodes you look around
to discover that you've lost more of your friends.
But nobody else notices, it isn't happening to them.”
Vitto Russo
See How we Got Gay 34:00
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Kony 2012
- Support for Campaign
Mobilized the world by putting a spotlight on atrocities; raised awareness;
Hope of reduced number of death and misery of child soldiers;
Hope of bringing Kony to justice;
Resources for Ugandan people
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Group Work
Powerful Social Movement and Social Media Campaign -What can you tell me about this movement?
Estimated 1/2 of American young people heard about this campaign. 97 million viewed the video onYoutube
-Resulted in a US Senate decision to sendspecial military advisors to Uganda to review the situation and what should be done about Joseph Kony
Influential Celebrity supporters
Action Kits - buttons,posters, bracelets, stickers,t-shirts
Culminating in Cover the Night - 17 participated in Vancouver
Invisible Children, Inc. is an organization founded in 2004 to bring awareness to the activities of the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) in Central Africa, and its leader, Joseph Kony.
Specifically, the group seeks to put an end to the practices of the LRA which include abductions and abuse of children, and forcing them to serve as soldiers.
To this end, Invisible Children urges the United States government to take military action in the central region of Africa.
Invisible Children also operates as a charitable organization, soliciting donations and selling merchandise to raise money for their cause.
The organization promotes its cause by dispensing films on the internet and presenting in high schools and colleges around the United States.
Talk more about the movement next class…
Kony 2012
- Criticism of Campaign
Oversimplification of issues
Slacktivism - awareness and donation with no impact beyond feeling good
Consumerist solution
Dangerous falsehoods - size of his following; actual impact
Elevates war criminal to celebrity status
Needs an African solution; not US involvement
Casts Africans as victims needing US intervention
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Group Work
Powerful Social Movement and Social Media Campaign -What can you tell me about this movement?
Estimated 1/2 of American young people heard about this campaign. 97 million viewed the video onYoutube
-Resulted in a US Senate decision to sendspecial military advisors to Uganda to review the situation and what should be done about Joseph Kony
Influential Celebrity supporters
Action Kits - buttons,posters, bracelets, stickers,t-shirts
Culminating in Cover the Night - 17 participated in Vancouver
Invisible Children, Inc. is an organization founded in 2004 to bring awareness to the activities of the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) in Central Africa, and its leader, Joseph Kony.
Specifically, the group seeks to put an end to the practices of the LRA which include abductions and abuse of children, and forcing them to serve as soldiers.
To this end, Invisible Children urges the United States government to take military action in the central region of Africa.
Invisible Children also operates as a charitable organization, soliciting donations and selling merchandise to raise money for their cause.
The organization promotes its cause by dispensing films on the internet and presenting in high schools and colleges around the United States.
Talk more about the movement next class…
Kony 2012
- Criticism of Campaign
Overall revenue for the year, made up from various sources including the Kony 2012 campaign, was $31.94 million.
Its total expenses were $15.98 million. Of that, the company spent 81.48 per cent on "media, mobilisation, protection and recovery", according to the report.
35% on mobilisation included film tours and music tours, international events and advocacy.
Kony ia still at large
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Group Work
Powerful Social Movement and Social Media Campaign -What can you tell me about this movement?
Estimated 1/2 of American young people heard about this campaign. 97 million viewed the video onYoutube
-Resulted in a US Senate decision to sendspecial military advisors to Uganda to review the situation and what should be done about Joseph Kony
Influential Celebrity supporters
Action Kits - buttons,posters, bracelets, stickers,t-shirts
Culminating in Cover the Night - 17 participated in Vancouver
Invisible Children, Inc. is an organization founded in 2004 to bring awareness to the activities of the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) in Central Africa, and its leader, Joseph Kony.
Specifically, the group seeks to put an end to the practices of the LRA which include abductions and abuse of children, and forcing them to serve as soldiers.
To this end, Invisible Children urges the United States government to take military action in the central region of Africa.
Invisible Children also operates as a charitable organization, soliciting donations and selling merchandise to raise money for their cause.
The organization promotes its cause by dispensing films on the internet and presenting in high schools and colleges around the United States.
Talk more about the movement next class…
Act-Up and Kony 2012
- In your opinion, what did these campaigns do right?
- What might they have done differently?
- Where they successful?
- What was the role of social media vs. Face to Face communication in each case?
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Group Work
Powerful Social Movement and Social Media Campaign -What can you tell me about this movement?
Invisible Children, Inc. is an organization founded in 2004 to bring awareness to the activities of the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) in Central Africa, and its leader, Joseph Kony.
Specifically, the group seeks to put an end to the practices of the LRA which include abductions and abuse of children, and forcing them to serve as soldiers.
To this end, Invisible Children urges the United States government to take military action in the central region of Africa.
Invisible Children also operates as a charitable organization, soliciting donations and selling merchandise to raise money for their cause.
The organization promotes its cause by dispensing films on the internet and presenting in high schools and colleges around the United States.
Talk more about the movement next class…
Listening from the inside out
- As a facilitator of public meetings that are often controversial and emotional, what advice does this chapter provide on listening?
