AI Flashcards Lecture 10
What is the focus of Lecture 10 on Violent Protest?
Examining collective violence from the perspective of social movement studies, exploring explanations for violence during protests, and analysing the consequences of both protester and state violence.
What are some definitions of collective violence used in the lecture?
Riot, public disorder, spontaneous collective violence, collective non-institutional violence, and violent protest.
According to Frantz Fanon, what is the role of violence in anti-colonial struggles?
Fanon argues that violence is inherent in colonial power and exploitation, and decolonization is inherently a violent process. He believes the colonised have a right and duty to use violence, as it is a liberatory force that unifies the people.
How does crowd psychology explain violence during protests?
Crowd psychology, as proposed by Le Bon, views protest violence as reflexive and irrational, attributing it to the emotional contagion of crowds. This perspective reduces emotions to biological impulses and contrasts them with rationality.
How do early social movement studies differ from crowd psychology in explaining protest violence?
They view protest as rational, arguing that violence and disruption can be used strategically. These studies focus on opportunities and costs as factors influencing protest violence.
What is the J-Curve hypothesis, and how does it explain violent protest?
Proposed by J.C. Davies, it suggests that violent protest is most likely when a period of rising expectations and gratifications is followed by a sharp reversal, creating a gap between expectations and reality that becomes intolerable. This frustration leads to violent action.
What are some criticisms of the J-Curve and relative deprivation theory?
They assume a direct link between individual frustration and collective violence, neglecting interactional dynamics and the role of emotions like anger in mobilization.
What is political opportunity theory, and how does it explain social movements and protest violence?
Developed by scholars like Sidney Tarrow, Doug McAdam, and Charles Tilly, it posits that social movements arise not solely from grievances, but from changes in the political context that allow these grievances to be heard. Such changes include increasing political pluralism, a decline in repression, divisions among elites, and increased political enfranchisement.
How does the constructivist/cultural perspective contribute to understanding protest violence?
This perspective emphasizes the role of social movements in identity construction, arguing that collective goals and identities evolve over time, becoming both the cause and product of mobilization.
According to Donatella della Porta, how do cultural processes influence protest violence?
Radical ideologies lead to radical violent repertoires when triggered by political opportunities. State repression can create martyrs, myths, and injustice frames that fuel violence.
What is the role of emotions in social movements, according to scholars like Jeff Goodwin, James Jasper, Francesca Polletta, and Hank Johnston?
Inspired by the cultural turn in social sciences, these scholars examine how emotions, shaped by cultural understandings and norms, influence mobilization and identity construction.
What are moral shocks, and how do they impact social movements?
Described by James M. Jasper and Jeff Goodwin, moral shocks are events that evoke strong emotional responses, often leading to the recruitment of new members and the activation of existing networks within social movements.
What are some types of emotions relevant to social movements?
Reflexive emotions, moods, and moral emotions.
According to Hank Johnston, how do emotions shape protester and police violence?
Emotions can alter the assessment of costs and risks, leading to escalation. His relational perspective emphasizes the interplay of emotions between protesters and police.
What are scattered attacks in the context of protest violence?
Violent tactics employed by radical groups within a largely nonviolent protest, often as a strategy to gain attention or assert commitment.
How do broken negotiations contribute to protest violence?
Initially nonviolent protests can turn violent when authorities fail to respond, leading to an emotional response of anger and frustration.
What are the two emotional management mechanisms discussed in the lecture?
Fear abatement (overcoming fear to engage in protest) and anger spirals (escalating anger between protesters and police).
How does long-term anger relate to violence during protests?
Long-term anger stemming from structural injustice can contribute to reflexive anger in the moment, leading to violence.
How do internal divisions within social movements impact protest violence?
Movements are often divided ideologically and strategically, with varying views on the use of violence. Confrontations with police can lead to either de-escalation or escalation, with emotional spirals contributing to violence.
Can violence be effective for social movements?
Disruption and property destruction can attract attention to movement goals, but protest violence often has negative consequences.
What are the positive effects of disruption on social movement outcomes?
Disruptive tactics can be effective in achieving movement goals, attracting attention from policymakers and the media.
How can property destruction benefit protest campaigns?
It can gain attention, demonstrate commitment, and even increase protest participation. However, it often negatively impacts public opinion.
What are the potential effects of provoking the police?
While tactical violence can elicit a disproportionate police response that further mobilizes protesters, it risks turning public opinion against the movement.
What are the general effects of protest violence?
They are mostly negative, tending to decrease protest size, alienate bystanders, and increase the costs of protesting for those who remain. Peaceful protests generally enjoy higher legitimacy.
How does state violence affect protest dynamics?
It has an n-shaped relationship with protest: preventive repression hinders protest initiation, light violence can trigger backlash and mobilize more protesters, while severe violence tends to demobilize.
