SOCIOL 4DD3 Exam

According to Marx, where does power come from?

Economic inequality / class conflict

According to Weber, where does power come from?

• Class (economy)

• Status (prestige)

• Party (political influence)

Who thinks power comes solely from economic inequality.

Marx

What are the contradictions in capitalism?

Owners want to maximize profit, but workers want to improve wages + work conditions.

• Can’t have both.

What drives social change, according to Marx?

• Class struggles

• Contradictions in capitalism

• Material inequality

What is in all records of history?

A history of social class struggles

How does capitalism simplify capitalism, according to Marx?

Capitalism reduces society to 2 main groups: Bourgeoise and proletariat.

What is an example of how a movement can be progressive at one time but oppressive at another time?

The bourgeoise.

• Progressive movement that overthrew feudalism which created and expanded technology.

• Became oppressive by replacing personal bonds (human value) w market rltnshps (econ value).

Are modern movements inherently collective or individual and why?

Collective.

• Movements arise when recognize shared oppression and collectively respond.

How do Marx and Weber differ in their explanation of how social movements form?

• Marx believes they form from class struggle (economy / capitalism).

  • Exploitation → inevitable structural conflict.

• Weber believes they form from diverse context-dependent reasons (multi-causal).

  • Competing interests across diff groups.

Define despotic power

Decisions undertaken by leaders without consultation or limits.

Define infrastructure power

The state’s ability to penetrate + coordinate society, communicate decisions, and implement policies via networks of infrastructure.

What does Mann believe the state’s power is grounded in?

Its infrastructure capabilities and centrality.

• The state’s power varies depending on the capacity and reach of its institutions, with each institution having differing levels of power.

According to Mann, how should the state be conceptualized differently?

It should be conceptualized as multiple instutions with different levels of power.

• Disagrees that it is one unified actor with autonomous power.

How does the state affect movements, according to Mann?

The state determines whether movements are absorbed, transformed, or rejected.

How do social movements help build state power and autonomy?

Once a movement gains success, the state can monetize / profit of it which becomes hard to control, leading to movements depending on the institutions they had challenged.

• Ex. Corporations capitalizing off of Pride.

• Ex. Welfare movements expand the state’s administrative reach.

According to Morgan and Orloff, what is the state grounded in?

Social inequality.

• The state structures life chances (individual improvement opportunities) via policies, welfare systems, + laws.

Explain the ‘Many Hands’ metaphor?

Social movements confront a fragmented state that is made up of many institutions, actors, and forms of power.

• Power is becoming less centralized as it spreads in different institutions.

  • Causes ppl to question the state’s legitimacy.

How do Morgan + Orloff explain movements in the state?

Social movements target specific institutions, not the whole state.

• Can be oppressed in one arena, but not others.

• Bc of this, movements can partially succeed where an institution changes, but not the state bc of the power distribution.

What leads to social movements, according to Morgan + Orloff?

The state actively classifying and stratifying individuals.

What does the government’s stamp of approval on an institution do?

It provides the institution with legitimacy, resulting in symbolic power.

Define Resource Mobilization Theory (RMT)

Movements are rational, organized efforts that emerge when groups successfully acquire + use resources.

• Explains how movements are organized + sustained w resources.

What two things does a social movement need for success under RMT?

Emotions + resources.

• Just emo isn’t enough.

According to RMT, what makes a movement succeed?

When a movement can effectively organize and use resources.

According to RMT, what makes a movement fail?

• Only have grievances (no resources).

• Lack of resources, organization, and leadership.

What are limits to resource mobilization theory?

• Overly economic and rational.

• Ignores political context.

• Neglects culture, identity, + emotions.

• Can’t explain timing of movements.

Define the Political Process Model (PPM)

Movements emerge when political opportunities, organization, and shared consciousness align.

According to PPM, when do movements succeed?

• Political opportunities open

• Elites support

• Strong organization + mobilization

• Collective belief that change is possible

Under the PPM, when do movements fail?

• Closed political system

• Strong repression

• Lack of opportunities

• Failure to develop shared consciousness

What are limits to the political process model?

• Underplays and can’t fully explain culture + identity

• Over emphasis on political opportunities

• Sometimes too broad / vague

What are internal factors of the resource mobilization theory?

• Leadership

• Money / resources

• Organization

• Networks

What is emphasized in the RMT?

Internal factors

What are internal factors emphasized in the PPM?

• Organizational strength

• Cognitive liberation

  • Shared awareness

What are external factors emphasized in the PPM?

• Political opportunities

• State openness / closure

• Elite divisions

• Repression / facilitation

Is media neutral / objective?

No

• Movements must compete for attention, legitimacy, + influence.

• The state has strong influence over media.

How do the state + media often work together?

Together they often suppress + delegitimize movements.

What is the ‘Umbrella Movement?’

A pro-democracy movement that protested for free + fair election in Hong Kong.

Did the Umbrella Movement use a mainstream or alternative media system?

Hybrid

• Used alternative media to build identity, adapt to surveillance, challenge narratives, + quickly mobilize.

• Tried to push own frames that created on alternative media to mainstream media.

Does a movement’s media strategy matter?

Yes, it shapes public perception, but movements are often misrepresented in the media regardless of their strategy.

• Use dramatic events, clear messages, + emotions.

How does Boykoff argue media shapes public perception?

In a negative way showing protestors as deviant + violent.

According to Boykoff, who is mainstream media biased towards?

The state + elite’s perspective.

What is a limit of mainstream media for social movements?

They have less control over the narrative + it can be restricted / cautious under political pressure.

What is an advantage of mainstream media?

It has a wider reach than alternative platforms.

• Traditional media outlets (TV, print, etc).

Why is alternative media central for movements?

• There is more control over the narrative + can correct mainstream’s narrative.

• Story-telling + sharing info

• Flexibility + harder for the state to control.

Why do social movements have to compete over the media?

There is limited visibility.

• Competing for resources to increase access + transnational support.

• Some voices are more amplified.

How does mainstream media misrepresent movements?

• Underreporting

• Ignoring / minimizing protests

• Distortion

  • Protest paradigm

What is the protest paradigm?

When the media focuses on conflict + deviance, rather than the issue.