Charles Tilly, Social Movements, 1768-2004

Charles Tilly, Social Movements, 1768-2004

Tilly (2004) views social movements as "a distinctive way of pursuing public politics [that] began to take shape in Western countries during the late eighteenth century, acquired widespread recognition in Western Europe and North America by the early nineteenth century, consolidated into a durable ensemble of elements by the middle of the same century, altered more slowly and incrementally after that point, [and] spread widely through the Western world (p. 7)."

As noted in the handout, "What Are Social Movements," Tilly characterizes social movements by three elements:

1. "a sustained, organized public effort making collective claims on target authorities; let us call it a campaign
2. employment of combinations from among the following forms of political action: creation of special-purpose associations and coalitions; public meetings; solemn processions; vigils; rallies; demonstrations; petition drives; statements to and in public media; pamphleteering; call the variable ensemble of performances the social movement repertoire
3. participants’ concerted public representations of WUNC: worthiness, unity, numbers, and commitment on the part of themselves and/or their constituencies; call them WUNC displays" (pp. 3-4)

Ultimately, Tilly (2004) makes nine claims.

1. Social movements develop as interactions between claimants, their targets, and various third parties, including constituents, beneficiaries, antagonists, counter-claimants, and authorities.

2. Claims include program (actual or proposed actions or policies), identity (who we are and how Worthy, United, Numerous, and Committed we are), and standing (whom we represent).

3. The extent to which each type of claim is important varies both across and within movements and even within movements over time. Here we have room for New Social Movement theory to consider "identity politics" as the primary concern of "New Social Movements," (like environmentalism) in contrast to the programmatic claims of old social movements (like labor)

4. Democratization (relatively broad and equal citizenship, binding consultation of citizens on government policy, personnel and resources, and protection from arbitrary government action) promotes social movements.

5. Social movements claim popular sovereignty (not necessarily democracy, but some version of "people power" as opposed to traditional or even constituted authority.

6. Compared to the older form of local (and patronized) political contention, social movements rely on entrepreneurs, including professional organizers, brokers, and Non Government Organizations (NGOs)—so much so that recent movements have attempted to create the image of spontaneity by downplaying professionalism.

7. Once established in a particular setting, social movements spread to other claimants and even to other nations, through modeling, communication, and collaboration.

8. Social movements change across time and place according to

a. political environment (democracy, competition, repression, etc.) within which the claim is made

b. the ongoing interaction between claimants and targets/third parties, which includes innovation in response to repression (for example), negotiations and agreements

c. communication with and borrowing from others (claimants or third parties/authorities)

9. Social Movements may change fundamentally or disappear entirely, particularly with the growth of

a. political decentralization

b. privatization of governmental/political sphere

c. transnational political hegemony

d. shift away from democratization

Tilly considers a number of possible futures for social movements (pp. 149 and 154). What do you think?

Wood suggests a number of issues that we might discuss (pp. 158-159).

More important, how does Tilly help you with you project?

Consider These Additional Issues:

Why social movements emerged when and where they did:

- parlimentarization (pp. 52-3)

- political rights (pp. 54-6)

- democracy (p. 57-9)

How social movements spread (p. 63)

- international contacts (e.g., migration, U.N. and NGOs)

- movements appeal to international audience (e.g., Abolitionism, Apartheid)

- international relations and legitimacy (e.g., Civil Rights, Berlin Wall)

Movements and the Media

- media and movement development (pp. 84-89)

- globalization (pp. 101-108)

Democratization and Social Movements (pp. 123-143)

- nature of democracy (p. 127)

- democracy and social movements (p. 130)

- why democracy (p. 131)

- increasing population and social density

- decreasing social inequality: in resource distribution and social and economic relations

- insulation of political status (access to governing authority/polity membership) from social, economic, and cultural inequality

- integration of inter-personal trust networks (friendship and kin) and public politics (public services and responsibilities)

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