Week 6 Module
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Rutgers University *
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359
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Communications
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Apr 3, 2024
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Uploaded by ProfSeaUrchinPerson919
Michal Gecan, Going Public, The Habit of Action, 49-99
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How does Gecan define an action? What is his critique of the globalization activists’ demonstrations? What does he mean by an “introductory action” and what is its goal?
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Gecan describes an action as a meaningful and carefully organized effort carried out by a group of people to tackle a particular problem or promote a specific goal in their community. Community gatherings, fundraisers, and media outreach are just a few examples of an organizational action. He also critiques globalization activists for their tendency to prioritize theatrics and symbolism over achieving actual goals. He suggests that while large protests can raise awareness, they often fall short in creating lasting change. “Going Public” argues that, in order to make true change and build a stronger community, organizations should focus on specific goals specific goals and making steps to reach them; Otherwise, the intent
of organization may be misrepresented and attention may be the only result. Attention is the first step to progress– it does not count as a long-term goal or achievment. An introductory action, moreover, marks the initial effort by organizers to involve their community and rally support for wider organizing initiatives; This is what gains attention in order to gain the power to achieve an organizational goal. It is also what Gecan implies most glabalization activists ●
What are Gecan’s key lessons about effective actions and what points does he make about what leaders and targets learn from actions?
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Gecan emphasizes the importance of community unification and networking in effective actions. By nurturing new relationships and reaching out to a variety of people, resources and support can be mobilized to “flip the tables” on targets and make individuals “politically uncomfortable”. By enforcing social and electoral pressure, mobilization sensued. Gecan also discusses the abundance in negotiation
and organization, as information and knowledge about opposing parties are made evident throughout the entire process of organization. This allows a community’s voices to be heard by the necessary officials.
What lessons do you draw from the Gliedman relationship story?
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The Gliedman story illustrates the necessity and potential of mobilization in a struggling environment.Through door-to-door outreach, community functions, and media efforts, meaningful relationships and lasting change were made. With influential organizations working alongside the coalition, the community only grew more powerful. Ultimately, the group’s persistence and unity among its relationships were able to achieve major improvements in housing and revitalization of communal spaces. The feat also encouraged a more prevalent police force. These achievements not only improve residents' quality of life, but show the importance of community, strategic communication, and media outreach
in organization.
Jane McAlevey, No Shortcuts, Introduction, 1-22
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What are the main differences between advocacy, mobilizing and organizing?
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While advocacy implies the consistent support and fight for the interests of a certain social cause, mobilizing and organizing are the ways advocates successfully achieve their goals. A few examples of advocacy include, but are not limited to, protests, rallies, media outreach, and community hearings. Mobilizing, on the other hand, is the active process of preparing such groups or consituents through tangible means. An example of mobilization is the actual preparation of rallies and the resources through which members of an organization can protect themselves (e.g. recording their surroundings). Lastly, organizing is the process through which the logistics and the short-term, middle-term, and long-term goals of a group are carefully planned.This includes, but is not limited to, budgeting, identifying goals and target groups, and assigning responsibilities to different individuals/group members of an organization.
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What is the key distinction between structure-based versus self-selecting groups and what difference does it make for organizing?
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Structure-based groups are illustrated to be much more strict than self-selecting groups. While self-selecting groups are founded on shared interests, members are not held to certain expectations and responsibilities that structure-based groups are. Structure-based groups are organized by hierarchical standards; This means that elections are held and leaders are chosen, just as decisions are made through structured protocol. These expectations and evident responsibilities allow organizations to work efficiently as a cohesive unit. Structure-based groups also reach out to a wide variety of individuals, significantly increasing their network and ultimate repository of knowledge. Self-selecting groups, on the other hand, do
not reach out to nearly as many organizations as structure-base dgroups do. They primarily focus on other groups they are certain they will gain the support of and encourage individuals who already
hold an interest in the group’s cause to join. This causes self-selecting groups’ networks to remain virtually stagnant. Along with a static social network, self-selecting groups are put at a disadvantage since they typically lack any form of formal leadership. Without the same structure that structure-based groups have, self-selecting groups may struggle remain active.
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Why are unions the hardest test for social movement organizing?
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Unions are perceived to be the most difficult group for organization due to a myriad of factors. In order for unions to efficiently organize or mobilize, it is a necessity that they convince as many staff members as possible to join the cause. While joining will benefit the staff in the long run if all goes well, stepping away from work to protest will affect the staff members’s pay; This causes difficulty in recruiting members. Due to the limited finances and staff members to work together, organizing becomes difficult for most unions without extensive networking and resource allocation. Law enforcement is another significant factor, as well, as many protesting union and staff members fear being denied the right to enter onto certain property since arrest may follow, as a result.
Alicia Garza, The Purpose of Power No Base, No Movement, 212-218
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What is Garza's main argument in this piece?
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Garza, in a sense, shows her support for structure-based groups in her text “The Purpose of Power”. In explaining the necessity for a resilient and devoted collective, Garza explains the need for not only leadership, but the encouragement
of such. In order for organizations to effectively achieve their goals, members must have respect for echother and leadership alike. In doing so, true connections between members of the organization will be made and future roads for organization will be paved. A diverse and unified community allows for the voices of everyone to be heard, creating the spread of a message that represents each person’s beliefs. By following Garza’s main points, a resilient organization and lasting change will be made.
Put Your Target in a Decision Dilemma, Beautiful Trouble, 166-167
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Can you give an example of putting a target in a decision dilemma?
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A contemporary exemplification of putting a target in a decision dilemma are union protests. For example, if a labor union asks its workers to skip work for a few days to protest for an equitable salary, they would be met with a dilemma: If they don’t fight, nothing will be done and they will have to find another way to make up for their lost salary. If they do fight, legislative reform/changes could be made, but they may be met with unintended repercussions along the way. For example, staff members may lose out on a few meaningful days worth of pay. They may even be met with legal repercussions, as law enforcement may make arrests for trespassing among a variety of other things. The BLM movement, after
the murder George Floyd, is another example of putting a target in a decision dilemma; In the fight for racial justice, many protestors were arrested by law enforcemnt for asserting their right to protest. These situations have one major theme in common: If organizers did not fight, nothing would be done, but some who did dealt with unfair repercussions as a result. \\\
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