What does the social movement literature tell us about Obama?
Well according to William Gamson’s analysis in his classic “The Strategy of Social Protest”, gains by challenging groups (groups that challenge the status quo) come at times of change. His analysis was specifically focused on periods such as the Great Depression but in our economic situation, along with the ideological shift in party politics, we may see change come from the Obama administration that is pushed by social movements organizations (SMOs).
The hypothesized reason for such change is that during such times, the establishment has a full plate (economy, global warming, war, health care) so any contesting groups may be given some of their demands in order to lessen their policy load.
Gamson found that usually it is organizations that existed before the crisis or critical period that win gains rather than up-and-coming organizations but that may be due to the length it takes the groups to get properly mobilized, in which case, if new groups are quickly mobilized they may have a better shot at victory with a troubled yet ideologically idealistic Obama administration, rather than the previous Bush administration.
Aside from Gamson’s findings, the social movements literature on “political opportunities” is highly informative on the question of Obama and the possibility for social change:
– social movements win demands more frequently when political opportunities open up.
– when candidates run and win on a platform of change, people’s expectations lead the candidates to at least appear to the public as beacons of change.
– When contesting groups mobilize and get mass support, the politicians rhetoric is threatened if nothing is done.
– Negotiations happen between the social movement organizations and the administration.
– Some policies are adopted.
In addition, Sidney Tarrow writes, “Reform is most likely to result when challengers from outside the polity provide political incentive for minority elites within it to achieve their own policy goals. Reform often results less from direct demands of individual protest movements than from a subjective or objective coalition between reformers within the polity and challengers who initiate collective action outside it.”
(Cooperative Perspectives on Social Movements)
From a radical perspective, large social change will not occur based on the administration in charge, but the administration allows for key “non-reformist reforms” to be won.
In this respect, even radical social movements organizations should see some benefits to an Obama administration.
