movement finds itself, which provides the movement with political opportunities
and constraints. In the next section I will turn to the issue of political opportunity
structure. The above discussion on leadership of social movements indicates that
...
Students will write four papers (one of them optional) throughout the semester
focusing on a specific social movement that interest them. (Note: all papers will
be about the same social movement.) Students will be asked to choose social ...
This book contends that the impasse of the Left today is in part, a result of an anarchist ‘common sense’ among activists. The author argues that the vital dynamics of anarchism and social movements need to be combined with a reappraisal of the Communist party and state. While cynicism towards capitalism and existing political institutions is plentiful, this book argues that the Left appears mired in a reactive politics of resistance, unable to formulate programmes for substantive social change. Drawing insights from the history of the Left, political economy, contemporary critical theory and an in-depth study of Occupy, the author provides concrete suggestions as to how the Left might ‘claim the twenty-first century’ and realise a more equitable social order. Social Movements and Democracy in the 21st Century challenges activists and scholars to rethink social movements and political organisation, and to actively work towards enduring social change. The book will be of interest to students and scholars of social movement studies, Left theory, critical theory, political sociology and Marxism, as well as anyone with an interest in ‘political change’.
The State Of The Art In Western Europe And The Usa
A study of social movements in ten Western democracies - a field of social science that is difficult to survey. The book summarizes theoretical approaches and their methodological correlates and provides an inventory of research on social movements in the US and nine West European countries.
1 The same movements developed in other European countries . They were
similar in many respects to the movements in the Netherlands and West Germany
, although there were differences as well ( cf . Brand 1985 ; Cerny 1982 ;
Kaltefleiter ...
examination of the fate of American social movements . 20 Movements - undergo
transformations in response to both external pressures and internal processes ,
which in turn are often triggered by environmental conditions . Most of these ...
Why have scholars of social movements neglected sources of continuity between
cycles of movement activity and, instead, preferred an "immaculate conception"
interpretation of social movements? First, scholars generally are more interested
...
Also, we will look for characteristics it shares with other movements in this regard,
as well as differences. Social Movement Success Through Social Change The
success of social movements has to be judged by the extent to which they are ...
Neil Smelser views social movements as directly oriented towards a change in
social institutions and social norms . 3 One , however , has to be careful not to
identify a social movement merely on the basis of the tactics used to mobilize and
...
Social movements continue to provide rich fodder for social researchers in the twenty-first century. This reader gives range and depth to ongoing debates about what constitutes a social movement, what motivates actors to participate in social movements, and how social movements continue to evolve in post-industrial societies such as the United States. Not all social movements are about positive social change and some movements have been and will be destructive. The nine essays contained in this text represent classical movements such as the Oneida utopian movement of nineteenth century America and contemporary emerging movements such as the church-growth movement. The authors examine movements that are attempting to revitalize American health care and religious practice along with movements that are counter to social justice such as the white supremacist movement. Was Jonestown a cult or social movement? How does a charismatic leader such as John Humphrey Noyes sell the notion of selective breeding to Oneida communitarians? What is motivating people to participate in the contemporary communal movement in the United States? Such questions are fundamental to our understanding of the emergence and sustainability of social movements. This reader provides authoritative answers to these questions and many more as well as providing a basis for further thought and discussion among students of social movements. While this volume does not attempt to present a unified theory of social movements, the authors apply different theoretical approaches to their explanation of the movements they write about. Authors represent various disciplines such as anthropology, education, and sociology and specialty areas such as criminal justice, immigration, and religion. This multidisciplinary approach adds to the appeal of this reader; with the goal of accessibility to a wide range of audiences who are interested in social movement phenomena, both past and present.
While this volume does not attempt to present a unified theory of social movements, the authors apply different theoretical approaches to their explanation of the movements they write about.
