Brad
----- Original Message ----- From: "Chip Berlet" <cberlet at igc.org> To: <lbo-talk at lists.panix.com> Sent: Sunday, September 23, 2001 12:04 PM Subject: Re: A Positive Program
> Hi,
>
> Recent social movement theory suggests that most people join social
movement
> organizations, projects, or campaigns because they are recruited by
face-to-face
> contact by a cohort--friend, family or co-worker.
>
> Social movements succeed due to a combination of things.
>
> ***A discontented group of politicized persons who share the perception
that
> they have common grievances they wish addressed.
> ***The recruitment of politicized persons into the movement through
pre-existing
> social networks, with the incentive that participation will be rewarding
and
> successful.
> ***A core group of strategic leaders and local activists that effectively
> mobilize, organize, educate, and communicate with the politicized persons.
> ***The availability of resources and opportunities in the larger social
and
> political scene that can be exploited by movement leaders and activists.
>
> Ideology, it turns out, is learned in the movement. Ideology seldom
attracts
> people to a movement. Contrary to popular belief.
>
> -Chip
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "kelley" <kwalker2 at gte.net>
> To: <lbo-talk at lists.panix.com>; <lbo-talk at lists.panix.com>
> Sent: Sunday, September 23, 2001 2:29 PM
> Subject: Re: A Positive Program
>
>
> > At 01:52 PM 9/23/01 -0400, Chip Berlet wrote:
> > >Hi,
> > >
> > >But isn't it sometimes important to ask...what are the broad parameters
of
> > >the left? I would argue that being anti-elite or anti-regime is not
> > >enough. There are plenty of fascists who are anti-regime and want to
> > >protect civil liberties (at least until they are in power).
> >
> > i didn't say it wasn't. but, hmmm, well let me sharpen the axe that i've
> > frequently sharpened: how did you get here? witha well-formed critique
of
> > capitalism? no, probably not. lucky you, if you did.
> >
> >
> > >Valuing people over property is a start.
> >
> >
> > we are the world, we are the children. we are the ones who make a
brighter
> > day so let's start giving... :)
> >
> > >But also some sort of systemic analysis, whether that is based in
Marxism,
> > >or anarchism, or feminism, or critical race theory, or queer theory, or
> > >some social justice version of religious or spiritual traditions.
> >
> >
> > and how do you learn that? because some gatekeeper turned you out and
said,
> > "sorry charlie (ooops! :), you need to go to college or read some more
> > books or sumpin coz your analysis is too individualistic. come back when
> > you've got some systemic analysis under your belt coz, until then,
you're
> > despoiling the purity of the struggle.
> >
> > I know you don't mean this. i'm just talking about working with other
> > folks. a lot of these kids are just kids. they don't know much, they may
> > even be only motivated by the fact that they're afarid of what will
happen
> > to them and their country if we retaliate--because it was a terrorist
act.
> >
> > what do you think i should do when I sense that? tell them they're
selfish
> > little snots who don't belong? or should i recognize that it's a start.
> >
> > i'd rather maintain contact than boot them out so they can make their
way
> > toward the rightwingers.
> >
> > and, i remind you that my own experience organizing in what started out
as
> > a NIMBY movement turned out to be one that became Not In Anyone's
Backyard.
> > the struggle turned from a critique of the state to a critique of
capital.
> > not as sophisticated as we'd like, but it was quite an advance given
what
> > we'd started out as.
> >
> >
> > kelley
> >
>