Post on 20-Dec-2015
“Generating Commitment Among Students”
Eric Hirsch
Political Solidarity
Political Solidarity and RecruitmentPolitical Solidarity: identify with or support for a cause is key to getting
people involved.
Impact of Group Process (94) Mobilization can be explained by looking at influ. of several group-based processes:
1) Consciousness-raising2) Collective empowerment3) Polarization4) Group decision-making
Political Solidarity
Consciousness-Raising (94)It involves a group-based discussion where beliefs are
created or reinforced. It can be used to:
1) Communication the legitimacy of a cause 2) The need for certain tactics, 3) The failure of traditional politics.
Limits: Rarely takes place among:
Socially marginal groupsRational calculators
Political Solidarity
Collective Empowerment (95)It is the exp. Where recruits gain a sense of the potential power of a SM.
Polarization (95)Can have both a positive and negative effect
Negative: creates distance between sidesPositive: can create a sense that individual and group fate is tied together.
Columbia Divestment Campaign
Collective-Decision-Making (95)It can make people feel bound by collective decision, if they were able to
have a say in the decision-making process.
The Columbia Divestment Campaign: A Case Study (96)There was a three week long blockade of the Hamilton Hall (classroom and
admin building).
Columbia Divestment Campaign
Collective-Decision-Making (95)It can make people feel bound by collective decision, if they were able to
have a say in the decision-making process.
The Columbia Divestment Campaign: A Case Study (96)There was a three week long blockade of the Hamilton Hall (classroom and
admin building).
Columbia Divestment Campaign
Collective Empowerment: The Initiation of the Blockade Coalition for a Free South Africa (CFSA) which was started in 1981 sought to
raise awareness about the political situation in South Africa. They were moderately successful.
Columbia Divestment Campaign
Consciousness-RaisingThey used a variety of types of setting for CR sessions:
1) Dorm rap sessions, forums, teach-ins. 2) Traditional Means:3) Pushed and rec unanimous consent of faculty,
student senate, but 4) Board of Trustees ignore them.
TacticsTraditional Means:Pushed and received unanimous consent of faculty, student senate, but
Board of Trustees ignore them.
More Radical Tactics: Fasts, Blockade (97)Numbers grew with the danger of the event.
Who Participated?
Who participated in the BlockadeMany who participated were not previously active. (9 % prior to Blockade,
37% part in Blockade)
Source of Mobilization:1) Stds thought it might work.2) Motivated by sacrifice of std CFSA leaders, SF students.
Who Participated?Polarization and Increased Commitment (99) University reacts aggressively:
1) President sends letter calling blockade illegal2) Challenges its legitimacy3) Threatens students with expulsion. 4) Dramatically raised the stakes
Students fated became fused to groups fate: they resisted University scare tactics.
ConclusionCollective-Decision-Making and the End of the Blockade (100) The University waited the students out: as week dragged on, the students
decided to end blockade.