Government 302, Fall, 2005 Elizabeth Sanders 255-2305

Class meets MWF at 11:15-12:05 In GS HEC Office: 314 White Hall (mes14)
TA Lisa Sansouci (office hours 314 White, W 2:30-3:30 (office hours MW 12:30-2:30,
plus appt.)

Social Movements in American Politics

Social movements are efforts, against the odds, through which people at the margins of power unite to press their
grievances on the state (in this case, the national state).
Analyzing a variety of movements from the late 19th century to the present, this course seeks answers to the following
questions: What social and political conditions gave rise to these movements? What determined success or failure (and
how should those terms be defined and measured)? How do social movements affect political processes and
institutions (and vice-versa)? What is their legacy in politics, policy, and patterns of social interaction?

The movements to be studied are populism; progressive era movements (labor, farmers, women’s suffrage); the
modern feminist movement post-1960; protest movements of the 1930’s; civil rights; SDS and antiwar movements of
the 60s; environmentalism; the 1980’s anti-nuclear (weapons) movement and contemporary peace movements; gay
rights; and the new religious right. Some theoretical works will be used, but most of our theoretical explorations will
be inductively derived, from studies of actual movements, the difficulties they faced, and what they accomplished.

There will be a midterm and final exam, and one 10-12pp essay on an assigned topic, using the syllabus readings (due
November 28). They count for 30, 40, and 30% of the grade, respectively. There will be open discussion on alternate
Fridays, in the classroom. Study questions on the readings will be provided on the web site,

Books to be used, in whole or part (see below for pages read), in order of appearance, are:

Doug McAdam, Political Process and the Development of Black Insurgency

Frances Piven and Richard Cloward, Poor Peoples’ Movements
Elizabeth Sanders, Roots of Reform
Alan Brinkley, Voices of Protest
Todd Gitlin, The Whole World is Watching, 2nd ed.
Kirkpatrick Sale, The Green Revolution
Mary F. Katzenstein, Faithful and Fearless
Frances McRae and Gerald Markle, Minutes to Midnight (not in bookstore; special arrangement)
Clyde Wilcox, Onward Christian Soldiers? 2nd ed.
James W. Button, et al., Private Lives, Public Conflicts

A packet containing additional articles (denoted with *) is available at the bookstore. All readings on reserve at Uris.

Reading Schedule [Averages c. 110 pp/wk, but variable; pp noted in brackets, rounded]

Introduction to Social Movement Theory

Aug. 29-Sept. 2 Doug McAdam, Political Process…, 5-59 (concentrate on 36-59). [130]
*William Gamson, The Strategy of Social Protest, 28-37, 72-88
*Dennis Chong, Collective Action and the Civil Rights Movement, 1-12
Frances Piven and Richard Cloward, Poor Peoples’ Movements, 1-37

The “Movement Culture" of Farmers in the Late 19th Century

Sept. 5-9 Elizabeth Sanders, Roots of Reform, 1-6, 31-32, 101-47 [55]

Progressive Era Social Movements

Sept. 12-16 Sanders, Roots of Reform, 148-77 [75]

*Eleanor Flexner, Century of Struggle, chapters 20-21
*Rosalyn Terborg-Penn, African American Women in the Struggle for the Vote, 1-12

Organized Labor

Sept. 19-23 Sanders, Roots of Reform, 30-100 (concentrate on 71-100) [190]

Piven and Cloward, Poor People’s Movements, 113-25, 131-75
*Stuart Eimer, "Labor and the 2000 Elections," Research in Pol. Sci. v. 10, 213-21
*Rick Fantasia, Cultures of Solidarity, 121-79

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 Social Protest in the 1930’s

Sept. 26-30 Alan Brinkley, Voices of Protest, 3-7, 42-53, 61-64, 71-74, 82-84, 119-123, 143-75, 179-86, [115]
192-215, 242-62

The Civil Rights Movement

Oct. 3-7 Doug McAdam, Political Protest and …Black Insurgency, 60-201; [140]

Fall Break Oct. 10-11

Oct. 12-14 *Dennis Chong, Collective Action and the C.R. Movement, 197-206; McAdam, 205-229 [35]

(Midterm EXAM is on Friday, Oct. 14)

Movement and Media in the '60s

Oct. 17-21 Todd Gitlin, The Whole World is Watching, 1-71, 89-92, 127-56, 180-92, 209-232 [135]
*“Port Huron Statement” in Takin’ it to the Streets 61-74. (You may find it helpful to read Frederick
Miller, “The End of the SDS,” in Jo Freeman, ed., Social Movements of the 60’s and 70’s, on reserve
at Uris. However, this is not required; the chronology will be covered in lecture).

Oct. 24-28 Monday: Film: "Berkeley in the 60’s"; *Gary T. Marx, “External Efforts To Damage or Facilitate
Social Movements,” in Zald and McCarthy, Dynamics of Social MovementsWed.-Fri: Introduction
to Post-Materialism.
*Jeffrey Berry and Deborah Schildkraut, “Citizen Groups, Political Parties and Electoral Coalitions”
in Costain & McFarland, eds., Social Movements and American Political Institutions, 136-56.

Environmentalism

Oct 31-Nov. 4 Kirkpatrick Sale, The Green Revolution, 1-108 [108]

Women and Equal Rights

Nov. 7-11 *Anne N. Costain, Inviting Women’s Rebellion, 26-45 [125]

Mary F. Katzenstein, Faithful and Fearless ix-xi, 3-103

The Peace Movement of the 1980’s and Post-Sept. 11, 01

Nov. 14-18 Francis McCrea and Gerald Markle, Minutes to Midnight, 43-146 [130]
*David S. Meyer, "How the Cold War was Really Won," in Marco Giugni et al., How Social
Movements Matter 182-96, 200-02
*George Packer, "Smart-Mobbing the War," NYT Magazine, 3/9/03, 46-49
*Andrew Boyd, "The Web Rewired the Movement," The Nation 4/11/03, 13-18

The New Religious Right

Nov. 21-23 Clyde Wilcox, Onward Christian Soldiers? 2nd ed., 3-30, 34-158 [155]

(Thanksgiving break = Nov. 24-28. Class meets Wed. Nov. 23)

Essay Due Monday, November 28 in class.

Gay Rights and the Politics of Identity

Nov. 28-Dec. 2 James W. Button, et al, Private Lives, Public Conflicts, 1-98, 173-213 [135]

Penalties accrue daily for unexcused late papers. A document from Gannett or other physician confirming treatment
for illness must accompany any late paper or exam. Make sure the time received is confirmed by email if not submitted
in class on due date. Read "Paper Writing Pointers" (at web site) carefully before writing. Consulting the Walk-In
Writer’s Service is strongly recommended.
If you feel unwell, physically or psychologically, you should not hesitate to use the resources at Gannett.

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If you have any problem that is interfering with your performance in this class, feel free to come and talk to me, in
confidence, or call me or send an email.