POSC 1000 Introduction to Politics

1. POSC 1000 Introduction to Politics Unit Seven: Interest Groups & Social Movements Russell Alan Williams

2. Unit Seven: Interest Groups and Social Movements Required Reading: Mintz, Chapters 9 and 10. “Social Movements and Political Dissent” Outline: • Introduction – the Politics of Dissent • Political Environment and Social Movements • Strategies • Canadian Social Movements

3. 1) Introduction – the Politics of Dissent: Concepts: • “Social Movements”: Networks of groups seeking major social/political change • Often act outside normal politics • “Political Protest”: Political action that takes place outside of formal changes • Normally seeking major change Two concepts invariably linked . . . though some social movements are “mainstream” . . . . • “Contentious Politics”: Citizen based protest movements – organized against economic and political elites

4. Criteria of “Political Protest”/”Contentious Politics”? a) Actions outside formal channels = Both democracies/non-democracies may not be “open” to new demands • Result: Challenge policy and process • E.g. Canadian parties and youth turnout problem • Studies show youth just not interest in formal politics – CPRN study b) Members not normally important political actors • “Marginalization”: Exclusion from “mainstream” or “centre” • National/ethnic groups – minority language rights • Groups outside of “social norms” – Gay & Lesbian groups and pride parades • Regional producer groups – Farmers and Fishermen c) Pursue large changes in public policy – changes not easily accommodated by existing elites • E.g. Opposition to the Vietnam War/The “Anti-Globalization” Movement/The “Occupy” protests.

5. 2) Political Environment & Social Movem’ts: Social movements, political protest and contentious politics tend to escalate towards violence if state is unresponsive • E.g. Breakdown in “legitimacy” • “Political Opportunity Structure (POS)”: Openings that political institutions offer (or don’t offer) to protest movements E.g. Democratic governments Federalism Bill of Rights/Rule of Law • POS is normally more closed in non-liberal democracies =More escalation  Terrorism and revolution

6. 3) Strategies: a) Strategies in democracies • Ordinary, legally sanctioned protests . . . • “Civil Disobedience”: Deliberate lawbreaking that accepts punishment by the state • E.g. US Civil Rights Protests (1960s) • “Segregation”: Legal separation of blacks and whites in United States • International or transnational social movements and political protest • Cross border links among protest movements • E.g. American Irish Associations • E.g. “Occupy” Movements

7. B) Strategies in non-democracies • POS less “permeable” E.g. Civil disobedience generates violent state repression • “Political Violence”: Use of Physical force that has a political objective • Chosen by protest movement, government or is an unintended consequence • E.g. Escalation during protests  Kent State, 1967 • Highest forms . . . . War! • “Revolution”: Use of violence to overthrow a government • Can result in major socioeconomic and political changes = “Social Revolution”

8. “Terrorism”: Deliberate use of violence to induce fear in population • Often directed at the “innocent” • E.g. Suicide bombings • Intended to produce a negative reaction from state that weakens legitimacy of the regime . . . . • Proponents think it is justified by nature of the opponents . . . • Immoral, illegitimate regimes • “Disappearance”: The kidnapping by security officials of suspected dissidents – never heard from again • Military preponderance – How do you fight the U.S. army? • “Counter-Insurgency”: Military and political action of governments to defeat revolutions and terrorism • Repression and reform (E.g. US Military in Iraq)

9. 3) Canadian Social Movements: a) Quebec Nationalists: • Emerged from “quiet revolution” – 1960s social changes: • Decline of the church • Rise of Quebecois nationalist identity • “Secessionist”: Person who favors separation of territory from existing state • Strategies? -Civil Disobedience -Political Violence -Normal protest & mainstream Politics • Canadian “POS” is open – Nationalists gained control of Quebec government

10. b) Aboriginal rights: • Marginalized . . . • Strategies: -Civil Disobedience -Threat of Political Violence -Transnational Political Protest -Legal Challenges? • Legal system open to pursuit of aboriginal rights • E.g. Land Claims =Illustrates open POS? c) Others? -Agrarian protest -Fishermen’s Protective Union -Modern Environmental Movement

11. For next time: Unit Eight: Public Policy and Administration (November 10) • Required Reading: • Mintz, Chapter 16.