But thinking in that way points to the almost total lack of empirical material on what would be the core way of estimating the social movements between 1970 & now: How many people did a given movement 'recruit' who then _remained_ activists and now link present to past. I think I've argued before that the controlling purpose of any social movement is first of all to increase the number of activists within that movement, and only ultimately (and usually indirectly) to have an impact on public policy. Apartheid would have probably collapsed in S.A. even without an anti-apartheid movement in the U.S. But how successful or unsuccessful was it in contributing to the "pool of activists" who kept things alive. I suspect that the Migrant demos 5 years ago were hugely successful in this sense. Probably Seattle. Certainly the anti-war movement of 2001/2003, though they 'failed' to affect the wars. Central American solidarity contributed greatly (I think) to the 'pool of activists' (those who kept things alive). But hard information on this is obviously hard to come by.
Carrol
Carrol
-----Original Message----- From: lbo-talk-bounces at lbo-talk.org [mailto:lbo-talk-bounces at lbo-talk.org] On Behalf Of Alan Rudy Sent: Tuesday, November 22, 2011 11:36 AM To: Progressive and Critical Sociologist Network; lbo-talk at lbo-talk.org Subject: [lbo-talk] the soc mov'ts class outline
Dear All: I sought suggestions for how to think about, what to use as sources, my pending Social Movements Since the 60s class... After tearing my hair out, continuing to despise myself for leaving out feminism and labor (there are other classes on these movements specifically), and sure I am never going to recover from chopping out all the other domestic, foreign and international movements - how, oh how, could I cut the anti-apartheid movement?! - I cut, I have settled on a trajectory within which I think I can construct a fairly coherent narrative. The key, which should have been obvious far earlier than it was, proved to be telling the story backwards... starting with Occupy Wall Streets and the Arab Spring and then moving into the Tea Party, Neocons and Neoliberalism.
The introductory week will be chronological and the rest reverse chronology (kinda/mostly). This first half of the course will then serve as a more contemporary sounding board and frame of reference for the more historical materials to follow. The second level of the outlines variously represent questions to wonder about, points to make, etc, but are not intended to be comprehensive statements of the focus or keys for the week. Any and all thoughts, criticisms, must-have-them-reads and celebrations would be GREATLY appreciated. Alan
WEEK TOPIC
1. *INTRODUCTION*
1. Progressivism, Old Left, New Left, NSM and the New Right
2. *OWS*
1. Facts, events and internal arguments
3. *OWS*
1. New Social Networkings?
4. *Arab Spring*
1. New Social Networkings?
5. *Tea Party*
1. Half-astroturfist/Half-populist?
6. *Moral Majority, etc.*
1. Conservative anti-modern romanticism
7. *Neoliberalism*
1. Domestic (deregulate, anti-tax)
8. *Neoliberalism*
1. International (marketize, privatize)
9. *Environmentalism*
1. Domestic/Global resource struggles
10. *Environmental Justice*
1. Domestic hybridity
11. *Political Ecology Movements*
1. International hybridity
12. *Gay RIghts/Queering*
1. From Identity Politics to the Politics of Post-identity
13. *Anti-war Struggles*
1. Pacificism, Self-interest, Anti-imperialism
14. *Black Power*
1. Self-defense and self-determination
15. *Civil Rights*
1. Integrationist radicalization/splintering
********************************************************* Alan P. Rudy Assistant Professor Sociology, Anthropology and Social Work Central Michigan University 124 Anspach Hall Mt Pleasant, MI 48858 517-881-6319 ___________________________________ http://mailman.lbo-talk.org/mailman/listinfo/lbo-talk