PowerPoint Presentation prepared by Terri Petkau, Mohawk College

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN Politics and Social Movements Robert J. Brym

Copyright © 2011 by Nelson Education Ltd 18-3 INTRODUCTION Will examine: Two type of politics Sociological theories of democracy Theoretical explanations for social movements History and future of social movements*

Copyright © 2011 by Nelson Education Ltd 18-4 TERMS DEFINED Power: Ability of an individual or group to impose its will on others, even if they resist Authority: Power widely viewed as legitimate Authorities: People who occupy command posts of legitimized power structures*

Copyright © 2011 by Nelson Education Ltd 18-5 TERMS DEFINED Social movements: Enduring collective attempts to change part or all of social order by means of rioting, petitioning, striking, demonstrating, and establishing pressure groups, unions, and political parties Political parties: Organizations that seek to control state power*

Copyright © 2011 by Nelson Education Ltd 18-6 TWO TYPES OF POLITICS Are two types of politics: 1.“Normal politics”: When authorities are firmly in power 2.“Politics beyond rules”: When legitimate authority grows weak*

Copyright © 2011 by Nelson Education Ltd 18-7 POWER FROM ABOVE: NORMAL POLITICS The state: Set of institutions that formulate and carry out a country’s laws, policies, and binding resolutions In normal politics, ultimate seat of power is the state (state power widely recognized as legitimate) State also is authorized to use force (coercive power) if necessary  But use of force by authorities is sign of state’s weakness (should not need force to impose will)*

Copyright © 2011 by Nelson Education Ltd 18-8 THE STATE In democratic countries like Canada, the government is formed by elected members of the political party that wins most seats in a general election Government initiates policies, proposes laws, and enforces both The government is referred to as the executive branch*

Copyright © 2011 by Nelson Education Ltd 18-9 CIVIL SOCIETY Individuals in civil society (private sphere of life) also exercise control over the state through variety of organizations and institutions, including:  Social movements  Mass media  Pressure groups or “lobbies”  Political parties*

Copyright © 2011 by Nelson Education Ltd THE INSTITUTIONS OF STATE AND CIVIL SOCIETY

Copyright © 2011 by Nelson Education Ltd POWER FROM ABOVE: NORMAL POLITICS Are five sociological theories of democracy: 1.Pluralist theory 2.Elite theory 3.Marxist theory 4.Power-balance theory 5.State-centred theory*

Copyright © 2011 by Nelson Education Ltd PLURALIST AND ELITE THEORIES 1.Pluralist theory: Argues normal democratic politics is characterized by compromise and accommodation of all group interests  Compromise and accommodation guarantees democracy 2.Elite theory: Argues that despite compromise and accommodation, power is concentrated in higher-status groups, whose interests the political system serves best  Elites are interconnected but do not form a ruling class*

Copyright © 2011 by Nelson Education Ltd ELITIST CRITIQUE OF PLURALISM Research undermines pluralist theory insofar as it demonstrates:  Existence of large, persistent, wealth-based inequalities in political influence and political participation  Disproportionately large number of political and other elites come from upper- and upper-middle-class families  Political involvement decreases with social class  As political involvement declines, so does political influence*

Copyright © 2011 by Nelson Education Ltd MARXIST THEORY i.Instrumentalist Marxists: Argue that elites form a ruling class, one dominated by big business  The state is instrument of business elite who gain control of state by:  Having members of wealthy families occupy important state positions, and  Having the state rely on big business for advice and financial support ii.Structuralist Marxists: Argue capitalist state acts as arm of big business because it is embedded in a capitalist system that forces it to act this way*

Copyright © 2011 by Nelson Education Ltd POLITICAL APATHY AND CYNICISM BY ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME, CANADA

Copyright © 2011 by Nelson Education Ltd VOTER TURNOUT, CANADIAN FEDERAL ELECTIONS

Copyright © 2011 by Nelson Education Ltd POWER-BALANCE THEORY Argues that despite concentration of power in society, substantial shifts in distribution of power often occur  These shifts have discernible effects on voting patterns and public policies Suggests degree to which a country is democratic depends on distribution of power between upper and lower classes  A country is more democratic when power is widely distributed*

Copyright © 2011 by Nelson Education Ltd CONTRIBUTIONS TO FEDERAL POLITICAL PARTIES BY SOURCE

Copyright © 2011 by Nelson Education Ltd RESULTS OF 2008 CANADIAN FEDERAL ELECTION

Copyright © 2011 by Nelson Education Ltd STATE-CENTRED THEORY Argues that despite influence of distribution of power on political life, state structures also exert important and independent effect on politics Focuses on how the state itself structures political life independently of way power is distributed among classes and other groups  Example: United State’s citizen-initiated voter registration law that effectively disenfranchises many disadvantaged people*

Copyright © 2011 by Nelson Education Ltd FIVE SOCIOLOGICAL THEORIES OF DEMOCRACY COMPARED

Copyright © 2011 by Nelson Education Ltd POWER FROM BELOW: POLITICS BEYOND THE RULES Are three theories that seek to explain emergence and/or growth of social movements: 1.Relative deprivation theory 2.Resource mobilization theory 3.Frame alignment theory*

Copyright © 2011 by Nelson Education Ltd POWER FROM BELOW: 1. RELATIVE DEPRIVATION THEORY Argues social rebellion occurs when an intolerable gap develops between social rewards people feel they deserve and social rewards they expect to receive  Social rewards include money, education, security, prestige, etc. Claims those who lead and join social movements are likely to be “outsiders” who lack strong social ties to community Large body of research has discredited both claims*

Copyright © 2011 by Nelson Education Ltd RESOURCE-MOBILIZATION THEORY Argues social movements emerge only when disadvantaged people are able to marshal the means necessary to challenge authority Success or failure of social movements depends largely on availability of resources  Resources include jobs, money, arms, capacity to create strong social ties among themselves, and access to means of spreading their ideas  Example: High level of unionization is conducive to more strike activity because unions provide workers with leadership, strike funds, and coordination*

Copyright © 2011 by Nelson Education Ltd WEIGHTED FREQUENCY OF STRIKES, CANADA,

Copyright © 2011 by Nelson Education Ltd PERCENTAGE OF NON-AGRICULTURAL WORKERS UNIONIZED, CANADA,

Copyright © 2011 by Nelson Education Ltd FRAME ALIGNMENT THEORY Stresses face-to-face interaction strategies employed by movement members to recruit nonmembers who are like-minded, apathetic, or even initially opposed to the movements’ goals Frame alignment strategies include:  Reaching out to other organizations thought to contain members sympathetic to movement’s cause  Elevating importance of positive beliefs about the movement  Stressing likelihood of the movement’s success*

Copyright © 2011 by Nelson Education Ltd HISTORY AND FUTURE OF SOCIAL MOVEMENTS: THE RICH COUNTRIES Three centuries ago, social movements typically were small, localized, and violent Subsequent growth of the state led to changes in social movements, including:  Growing in size (partly due to increased literacy, modes of communication, and new densely populated social settings)  Becoming less violent (size and organization often allowed movements to become sufficiently powerful to get their way without frequent resort to extreme measures)*

Copyright © 2011 by Nelson Education Ltd SOCIAL MOVEMENTS AND CITIZENSHIP RIGHTS Were four stages in efforts to expand rights of citizens: 1.Civil citizenship: 18 th century-struggle for right to free speech, freedom of religion, and justice before the law 2.Political citizenship: 19 th /early 20 th- century struggle for right to vote and run for office 3.Social citizenship: 20 th century-struggle for right to a minimum level of economic security and full participation in social life 4.Universal citizenship: Last third of 20 th- century struggle to recognize right of marginal groups and rights of humanity as a whole to full citizenship*

Copyright © 2011 by Nelson Education Ltd NEW SOCIAL MOVEMENTS Broadening of struggle for citizenship rights was signalled by emergence of “new social movements” in 1960s and 1970s Social movements considered “new” in terms of: i.Breadth of their goals ii.Kinds of people they attracted iii.Potential for going global*

Copyright © 2011 by Nelson Education Ltd NEW SOCIAL MOVEMENTS: i. GOALS Some new movements promote rights of humanity as a whole to peace, security and clean environment  Examples: Environmental movement, peace movement Other new movements promote rights of particular groups historically excluded from full social participation  Examples: Women’s movement, gay rights movement*

Copyright © 2011 by Nelson Education Ltd NEW SOCIAL MOVEMENTS: ii. MEMBERSHIP New social movements are novel in that they attract disproportionately large number of well-to- do people from social, educational, and cultural fields  Members include teachers, professors, journalists, social workers, artists, actors, writers, and student apprentices to these positions  Such people are predisposed to participate given higher education, employment outside business community, and routine exposure to struggles of their clients and audiences (prompting them to become advocates)*

Copyright © 2011 by Nelson Education Ltd NEW SOCIAL MOVEMENTS: iii. GLOBALIZATION POTENTIAL New social movements possess more potential for globalization than old social movements Globalization facilitated by inexpensive jet transportation and innovations in communications technology Often transcend local and national boundaries to promote universalistic goals (e.g., anti-nuclear and environmental movements)*

Copyright © 2011 by Nelson Education Ltd SOCIAL MOVEMENTS IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES “Other 85%” of the world is weak economically, politically, and militarily because of colonial rule and delay in industrializing economy Rather than seek to broaden democracy through expansion of citizenship rights, social movements (fueled by anti-Western sentiment) focus on ensuring more elemental human rights, such as:  Freedom from colonial rule  Freedom to create conditions for independent economic growth**