Lecture 20 Social Movements

Flashcards reviewing key concepts from the lecture on social change, political sociology, and social movements.

What are the main areas of study within political sociology?

Voting & elections, legislation & regulation, and social movements.

According to Weber's definition, what is the state?

A human community that successfully claims the monopoly of the legitimate use of physical force within a given territory.

What is the focus of most political sociology, despite the centrality of violence in the definition of the state?

Normal politics, understood in contrast to explicit use of force.

What do legislatures do?

Pass laws, establishing frameworks for rules and allocating money.

What is the role of regulators?

Write rules implementing laws and enforce those rules.

What is the role of courts regarding laws and rules?

Interpret laws & rules in the context of disputes.

What do street-level bureaucrats do?

Make determinations about individual cases.

According to Tarrow (2011), what is a social movement?

Collective challenges, based on common purposes and social solidarities, in sustained interaction with elites, opponents, and authorities.

What are some key features of social movements?

Civil society focus, distinct from political parties and business groups, goals of social change, framing (diagnosis, prognosis, motivation), and varied tactics (repertoires of contention).

What are some examples of iconic social movements?

Women’s Suffrage, Civil Rights, Anti-War (Vietnam).

What are some examples of current social movements mentioned in the lecture?

Black Lives Matter, Climate Justice, Christian Right, White Supremacy.

What is one condition that needs to be met for movements to emerge?

Actors must organize around a grievance.

When do movements emerge, in terms of grievances?

When grievances are perceived to be addressable, not necessarily when grievances are at their worst.

What does "WUNC" stand for, in the context of social movements?

Worthiness, Unity, Numbers, Commitment.

What are the four social movement theories discussed?

Resource Mobilization, Political Process, Indigenous Perspective, and Framing.

What does the Resource Mobilization theory focus on?

Money, formal organizations, and leaders.

What does the Political Process theory emphasize?

External windows of opportunity.

What does the Indigenous Perspective highlight?

Oppressed communities generate resources and opportunities.

What does the Framing theory focus on?

Consciousness raising, emotional investment, perception of problem & possible solutions, pitching to the public.

Why is attention important for social movements?

Attention is oxygen for movements; without it, they cannot catch fire.

Who shapes attention in the public sphere?

Gatekeepers, particularly media institutions.

What role do the media institutions play?

They provide the forums in which public conversations take place, and the gatekeeping that allocates attention within them.

What are some journalistic norms that influence media coverage?

Novelty, "if it bleeds, it leads," objectivity through balance, and emphasizing official sources.

What are some market pressures on media?

Subscriptions, donations, and ads (circulation, clicks).

How does racism affect reporting?

Celebrating lynching, justifying white violence, portraying Black social movements as violent while portraying white violence as atypical.

How has racism been evident in media coverage of victims?

Differential coverage of contemporary white vs. Black & Latinx victims.

What event related to Civil Rights happened in 1954?

Brown v. Board of Education

What key civil rights related acts were passed in 1964-1965?

Civil Rights Act and Voting Rights Act

When did the Million Man March take place?

1995

When did the Black Lives Matter movement initially start?

2014

When was the Oklahoma City Bombing?

1995

What event related to Obama's election is mentioned?

2008

When was the "Unite the Right" rally in Charlottesville?

2017

When was the attack on the Capitol?

January 6th, 2021

What does the reading assignment from Morris focus on?

From Civil Rights to Black Lives Matter