Lecture 12 (Movements & Revolutions)

Question 1

Social Movements - Tilly, McAdam, Tarrow

Answer 1

Tilly: social movements involve CONTENTIOUS PERFORMANCES (protests, strikes) where ORDINARY PEOPLE make COLLECTIVE DEMANDS

McAdam: movements are ORGANIZED EFFORTS aimed at PROMOTING OR RESISTING SOCIAL CHANGE through NON-INSTITUTIONALIZED ACTIONS (grassroots campaigns)

Tarrow: movements become CONTENTIOUS when they CHALLENGE INSTITUTIONS, act on NEW OR UNACCEPTED CLAIMS and force CHANGE IN THE SYSTEM

Question 2

Stages of Protest Cycles

Answer 2

1. Mobilization: organizing resources and rallying people to join the cause
2. Contagion: protests sentiment spread rapidly through society
3. Countermobilization: authorities/opposing groups PUSH BACK against the movement
4. Demobilization: momentum declines due to EXHAUSTION, REPRESSION, or LOST OF SUPPORT
5. Institutionalization: ideas from the movement become part of mainstream institutions
6. Remobilization: protest reignited because of unmet demands / renewed grievances

Question 3

Agency (Weber) vs. Structure (Marx) - Bourdieu

Answer 3

Structure (Marx): social change is determined by historical and material conditions (technology/economy)

Agency (Weber): individuals act within social structures to achieve their own goals

Bourdieu: actions from individuals interact with structures, shaping society over time

Question 4

Political Opportunity Theory - Skocpol

Answer 4

Revolutions/social changes happen when the political system is WEAK / VULNERABLE due to:
1. Elite disunity: the ruling elites are divided and disagree on how to handle problems
2. Foreign pressure: other countries put pressure through wars, inventions, or political influences, making it harder to govern
3. Economic or social crisis: problems like poverty, food shortages, or national debt weaken the gov’s ability to manage the country

Question 5

Mobilizing Structure - Tilly

Answer 5

transformed disorganized protests into structured protests/movements (networks and social ties play a crucial roles in rallying participants and spreading ideas)

Question 6

Contentious Repertoires

Answer 6

tactics used by protesters, such as
1. strikes
2. sit-ins
3. marches

Question 7

Framing Processes - Goffman

Answer 7

movements succeed when they create a narrative that resonates with people

charismatic leaders frame personal stories in ways that mobilize collective actions

ex:
GRETA THUNBERG (emotional appeals)

Question 8

Deprivation Theory - Melvin Seeman, Ted Gurr

Answer 8

Social movements arise from relative deprivation

Relative deprivation: the gap between what people have and what they expect

Ex:
- during the Occupy Wall Street Movement (2011), protesters highlighted the WEALTH GAP between the TOP 1% and the rest of society > fueled global protests against inequality

Question 9

Paradox of Collective Action - Olson

Answer 9

FREE-RIDER PROBLEM: people BENEFIT from COLLECTIVE ACTIONS without even PARTICIPATING > DISCOURAGES OTHERS FROM PARTICIPATING/CONTRIBUTING

Conflict of interests: individuals may prioritize personal gain over the collective good

Ex:
environmental movement: some individuals rely on others to push for policies like RENEWABLE ENERGY while using fossils fuels themselves