Characteristics of Successful Social and Ideological Movements A Workshop on Alliances for Obesity Prevention: Finding Common Ground Institute of Medicine of the National Academies October 20, 2011 D o u g I mig T h e U r b a n C h i l d I n s t i t u t e & T h e U n i v e r s i t y o f M e m p h i s D I M I G @ M E M P H I S. E D U ( 9 0 1 ) 3 8 5-4 2 4 3
Contentious Politics and Social Movements Episodes of contentious politics emerge in response to political opportunities and threats. Contentious campaigns become social movements: When actors: Are tightly connected share understandings and values Act collectively for change and when these campaigns are sustained When all of these conditions are met, social movements: Have the power to challenge powerful opponents and dominant ways of thinking. (C.f.: Tarrow 2001: 16.)
Networks Existing organization networks establish lines of communication and organization Churches Colleges Unions / Clubs New Electronic Technology
Shifting Political Opportunities Changes in political and social conditions that raise or lower barriers to political mobilization and policy access. Triggering Events + Social Trends Issue Salience Stability of Political Alignments Influential Allies Elite Alignment Levels of Opposition and Repression
Triggers and Framing Triggering Events ~ Infusion of New Knowledge Triangle Shirtwaist Fire The World Wars Pediatric x-rays Perceptions of crisis move the public from complacency to action.
Social and Economic Trends Great Depression Women s Suffrage Great Migration Changing Family and Work Patterns
Rising Issue Salience Ultimately, power of movements lies in their ability to mobilize mass public support; moving the public from complacency to action. Concern with child wellbeing is a historical constant. If only we could get the data into the hands of the public and policymakers
Rising Issue Salience Perceptions of Injustice, Agency, and Identity Injustice ~ public s moral indignation Agency ~ conditions can be altered through collective action Identity ~ group identifies itself collectively against a common target.
Political Alignments Highly contested elections / Unstable political alliances New programs and offices create new venues for advocates
Influential Allies Professions Faith communities Foundations Government officials (elected and appointed) Media Other social movements
Opposition and Repression Contestation for moral high ground Parental authority Governmental control Segregationists and the Civil Rights Movement Mother Jones v. Millionaire Manufacturers
1968 St. Jude & Johns Hopkins children s clinics 1968 CBS documentary Hunger in America Key ally in Senator Hubert Humphrey Organized advocacy Key allies Origins of WIC Movement Context 1973 Redbook Magazine article
What can we learn from this story? External Shock Critical allies Framing Issue salience Demands for Policy change
Additional Resources Carol J. DeVita and Rachel Mosher-Williams (eds.) 2001. Who Speaks for America s Children? The Role of Child Advocates in Public Policy. Washington DC: Urban Institute. Cheryl D. Hayes (ed). 1982. Making Policies for Children: A Study of the Federal Process. Washington DC: National Academy Press. Doug Imig. 2006. Building a Social Movement for America s Children. Journal of Children & Poverty. 12(1) 21-37. Sidney G. Tarrow. 2011. Power in Movement: Social Movements and Contentious Politics. (3 rd edition). New York: Cambridge UP.
A Century of Media Salience of Children s Policy
Repeated calls for movements for children 1906 - John Spargo, Bitter Cry of the Children 1909 - Ellen Key, The Century of the Child 1912 - Milk Safety Movement 1916 - Owen-Keating Act (Child Labor), Bread and Roses Strike Lawrence, MA 1919 Kindergarten and Nursery School Movements 1921 - Sheppard-Towner Act (Infant and Maternal Health) 1930s Child Labor Constitutional Amendment 1941 Lanham Act 1950s Polio Immunization 1960s War on Poverty/Hunger, Head Start, Civil Rights Movement 1970s WIC Program, Child Abuse Protections 1980s Child Abuse and Child Care 1996 Stand for Children March on Washington 1998 - The War against Parents 2011 - First Focus Campaign for Children 2011 - Save Our Schools