On 3/24/06, Chip Berlet <c.berlet at publiceye.org> wrote:
> These are the basic building blocks of a
> successful social movement:
> A discontented group of politicized persons who share the perception that they have common grievances they want society to address;
> A powerful and lucid ideological vision linked to strategies and tactics that have some reasonable chance of success;
> The recruitment of people into the movement through pre-existing social, political, and cultural networks;
> A core group of trusted strategic leaders and local activists who effectively mobilize, organize, educate, and communicate with the politicized mass base;
> The efficient mobilization of resources that are available, or can be developed, to assist the movement to meet its goals;
> An institutional infrastructure integrating political coordination, research and policy think tanks, training centers, conferences, and alternative media.
> Opportunities in the larger political and social scene that can be exploited by movement leaders and activists;
> The skillful framing of ideas and slogans for multiple audiences such as leaders, members, potential recruits, policymakers, and the general public.
> An attractive movement culture that creates a sense of community through mass rituals, celebrations, music, drama, poetry, art, and narrative stories about past victories, current struggles, and future successes.
> The ability of recruits to craft a coherent and functional identity as a movement participant.
-- Jim Devine / "There can be no real individual freedom in the presence of economic insecurity." -- Chester Bowles