Midterm

David Baltierra

Sociology 122 Social Movements

Instructor Timothy Kubal

 

Article Summary 1 Anti-Colonial Movements Summary

Throughout history cultural groups have use creative methods to express themselves politically. One tactic used is to be present in mass to establish a sense of control and to send a message from the people. In a 1995 a Supreme Court decision upheld the right of Catholic parade organizers to their right to assemble to express their religious beliefs to exclude an Irish American gay and lesbian group from the Saint Patrick's parade despite a Massachusetts state court ruling. This ruling established a prohibition from government intervention and not intervention by other citizens. An example of citizens protesting other citizens was when members in 1989 in Denver a Native- American organization AIM organized to boycott an Italian –American parade honoring Columbus Day. Also, the city of Denver compelled the Italian group to not use the name Columbus. The outcome was that the American civil Liberty Union (ACLU) defended the Italian based organization and successfully overturned  the City Denver's decision. Political Process Models

An argument is that the changing political environments assist grass movements in general. The environment and movements associated help create public policy. An example of this is the organization of African-American churches in the south during the civil right movement.    

In resources mobilization theory asserts the surgical like tactics in utilizing asset in people power, funding to establish direct action and why it works. There has been research and debate on the effectiveness of such tactics and their success.   

David Baltierra

Sociology 122 Social Movements

Instructor Timothy Kubal

Article Summary 2  Resources Mobilization: Disruptive Tactics

The Native –American Organization American Indian Movement (AIM) established guidelines in policies in how to be confrontational.  An example is the Alcatraz take over take over and at Wounded Knee which catapulted the organization into the national media. In both take overs established the principle in direct action of using force. An example of the direct action tactics used is the    re 71 day occupation of Native lands to reestablish proper ownership of reservation natural resources vital to their community. Due to a long standing inter feud; sparked media attention in which provoked outside inference from the Federal government and non-Native parties that were heavily armed. The takeover not only brought national attention to the desperation of the Native population, the coverage was used by the Federal government as a propaganda piece to label AIM as a threat to the national interest. The subsequent fall out hindered the movement by intimidating others not to support the movement and created the radicalization splinter movement of Aim. This radicalization crated factions within the Native-American community in moderates and those who have a direct action approach to address social injustice. An example of direct action is Colorado's AIM chapter leader Russell Means pouring of blood on a Columbus statue. The purpose of this event was with the intent to get arrested to force the media and the local government to listen to their grievances.  An additional tactic used was the pre arrangement to have some AIM leaders arrested. During the trail brought media attention and utilized an argumentative rhetoric technique in establishing a historical account of genocide towards Native people as a defense.

David Baltierra

Sociology 122 Social Movements

Social Movements Collective Memories

The article reviews the consequences of memory activism. An importance of remembering civil rights struggles is to provide truth and clarity as Nelson Mandala was an armed activist and fought for the injustice of inequality. The importance of social movements is based on political and moral upheaval. Collective memories must be defined in order to establish how the people remember an event to build an active community to establish the will of the people to influence public policy. The central core of a social movement is based on a shared collective memory to generate new interest. Collective memories establish a frame of reference to relate to present social movements.  There are several levels of collective memories at the micro, meso and macro level.  At the micro level are aggregative attitudes and beliefs such as political polls that measures public officials and past movements.  Also, micro level collective memories establish a measurement of the effectiveness of movement symbols.  In addition these studies establish the importance of media coverage to maintain and have influence over social movements.  In the meso level of collective memory is an inter- active experience among members of a group in which an observer uses a past traumatic experience to establish the relevancy of the present. An example of this  is community elders using a traumatic event in images to maintain membership and gain new inters in the public. Similar to the meso level the Macro level the importance of collective memories is to assist the public to remember the past to have a relevancy in the present. An example of Macro level studies in collective memories 'is the civil rights movement in which the image of President Lincoln was used to establish a frame of reference to struggle in slavery to struggle in civil rights to vote and equality. Other forms cultural references to maintain a collective memory are found in rhetoric, ideas, and music.     

David Baltierra

Sociology 122 Social Movements Instructor Timothy Kubal

Article Summary 4 & 5

Collective Action and Social Movements  In direct unorthodox actions  methods are used to address social injustices. These actions are designed to confront and undermine the establishment. This collective response is to create a social movement to aspire change. In order to have effective movements elements must be present to create strong ties with each other to be effective. In collective action groups are most effective when acting in unison with each other.  To establish effective a collective action the environment must be ready for individuals in order for social advocates to engage. Many social change movements are peaceful attempts to educate the public and crest change in behavior. In other short lived movements entail violence which is outside the accepted norm as the formation of lynch mobs.  An argument against such mobs is that such mobs lose their ability to use logic and reason and are scene as incontrollable, a counter argument through observations by sociologists have a country perspective.  The perspective that some sociologists have is that there must be one component present is establishing the lynch mobs actions. On component is that the group must be economically and socially deprived.  The second component is that the social standards are pushed to the limits and that rational to reason are comprised by the group's dynamics. An additional component that amplifies the break down theory in mob actions is the concept of rumors which are unsupportive claims in which society members construct a world view of a vague situation. In social movements individuals have an opposing reaction when   social breakdown occurs; soon after people soon experience the components of mob mentality.  An example of this is workers using unions, political parties and strikes to address and assert power.

David Baltierra

Sociology 122 Social Movements

Article Summary 4 & 5

In the union movement has brought about social change in the passing of legislative laws to protect workers' rights. Throughout the history of union strikes entailed violence in which union members and none union members have been killed through violence.   In solidarity union in which frames alignment can effective for outreach to others to draw memberships from individuals who are supportive of social causes. Unions are also effective in address the values and sediments the disenfranchised.  Core concepts in frames alignment theory are to have a personal interaction by organizational members to recruit nonmembers who share similar values and to change perceptions and lower skepticism. A tool that is used to social activists is the medium is Movies that play a crucial role in addressing social issues and are effective means to address contemporary issues.

The Wall Street Journal Article Lean Times for China Pork Producers By Isabella Steger   

A negative effect has had an impact on the prices of pork in China the government's actions to create large pig farms. The prices went down in December when demand is the greatest. Being 14%down to 12 %. The consequence is a negative effect on the industry yet a opportunity for buyers in mainland China. This oversupply creates lower prices in which policy watchers encourage few large scale pork and less government subsidies in operations which reduces hazards in the food industry. This over capacity creates instability in the market in adjusting to the lower prices.