Descriptor paragraph in italics
What is a social movement? What can it do? What can’t it do? How do you know if you are “in” one? All good questions….
Why it is a core competency:
Because we have to honour – and draw strength from – those who have come before us.
What consequences are there for yourself, the movement and the bigger picture if you can’t do level one?:
You are trying to get from a to b without any kind of map. Good luck with that…
Stage One:
Aware of the existence of the black civil rights movement as a “founder” movement for peace, second wave feminism, gay and lesbian rights etc. Very basic awareness of the history of environmental movements.
Aware of the notion of “repertoires” and “movement cycles.”
Able to critique the “star system” of heroic leaders that the media and state – and the wannabe stars themsevles – are so keen to have us think is the key to social movement success.
Stage Two:
Able to give an account of why -in their opinion- previous movements have succeeded or failed, and under what conditions “success” might be possible in their present state.
Stage Three:
Able to read academic papers and pull out useful snippets of information
Stage Four:
Can argue the toss about resource mobilisation theories versus affective politics, critiquing the blindness of academics to facts and concepts a millimeter either side of their conceptual framework, and their insistence on studying the powerless instead of studying the rich.
(Click on each of these for descriptors, indicators and resources)
