on the origin of social movements - by eric wilson all rights reserved 2013 © 1 on the origin of...

On the Origin of Social Movements - by Eric Wilson all rights reserved 2013 ©

1

On the Origin of Social MovementsAn Activist Guide to Action By J. Eric Wilson Editor & co-author R. Justen Collins

2On the Origin of Social Movements - by Eric Wilson all rights reserved 2013 ©

About The Authors

Eric Wilson is the Network Administrator and co-founder of Brush Fire Forum, executive director for the Kentucky 9/12 Project, and co-author of the book “We Surround Them; Our Journey From Apathy to Action”. He has been heavily involved encouraging the principle of self-governing leadership and has appeared on multiple shows and in numerous publications. Eric calls Kentucky his home and is married with three

children ranging from ages fifteen to three.

Justen Collins is a founding member of Brush Fire Forum who currently spends his days working as a logistics specialist. Predating his career success in the business world though, is his enthusiasm for writing, having been nationally published in assorted magazines and journals since 1996. In the spring of 2011, he co-authored his first book entitled, "We Surround Them: Our Journey from Apathy to Action." Known to his friends as BDC (a nickname

derived from his wrestling persona - "Big Daddy Collins), Justen is married with two young sons and presently resides in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Brush Fire Forum is an idea-driven community and popular destination for leaders, professionals, and individuals from all walks of life that share a commitment to improving critical thinking and inspiring self-governing leadership. In founding the Brush Fire Forum, we aim to facilitate the development of an online network that provides an escape from the world of mediocrity. Utilizing digital content, interactive forums, Brush Fire Pamphlets, books, and other publications, it provides readers with impactful insights to help them effectively analyze the ways in which they think and act in their personal lives, families, organizations, and communities.

Learn more @ http://www.brushfireforum.com

What is a Social Movement?3


A decentralized group of individuals working together to sustain a campaign in support a social goal

• Grassroots in nature– I am not a movement (need group think)– A crowd is not a movement (need sustaining)

What is a Social Movement?


- Heat or emotion and identity

- Oxygen or the catalyst and provides means to grow

- Fuel or resources that is feeding the fire

“It does not take a majority to prevail... but rather an irate, tireless minority, keen on setting brushfires of freedom” – Author Unknown


Leaders have followersLeaders create passion

Leaders are chosenLeaders work toward change

Leaders respondLeaders focus on a vision

Managers have employeesManagers create things

Managers are hiredManagers follow the status quo

Managers reactManagers focus on a job

Movements Don’t Have Managers

Leaders


View From the Fans

- What do I get? (Is the vision clear and does it correlate to my personal beliefs?)

- What do I give? (Do I feel like I have something to offer?)

- Do I belong? (Am I accepted and do I feel a part of this?)

- Change you can believe in (Am I growing or are we getting anywhere?)

Followers


8 Habits of a Successful Social Movement

1. commitment to integrity 2. commitment to transparency 3. commitment to open and honest relationships 4. commitment to communication 5. commitment to passion and resolve 6. commitment to positive team 7. commitment to respect for the individual 8. commitment to harmony


9/12 Project Tea Party

Occupy WSAgenda 21

Types of Social Movements


Time & Evolution

PR

OC

ES

S M

AT

UR

ITY

Unrest & Agitation

Inception &

Excitement

Identity & Breakout

Coalescence &

Formalization

Progression of Social Movements

All movements are rooted in some unease. For some it is a feeling of isolation and powerlessness for others it is frustration and being dissatisfied with current affairs. Generally either way it is somehow personalized and amplified during this cycle. At the same time it is common for spontaneous localized uprising demonstrations begin that you can relate to and affirm you beliefs. This cycle if a catalyst does not develop or conditions do not ripen to a point of actions may be very prolonged, lasting for several generations

Unrest is vague, generalized, and unfocused. When it becomes focused and when individuals come together to sustain a campaign in support of a common social goal, we have a movement or reference group. It is more or less spontaneous and dramatic coming together of people whose relationships are not defined by rules and procedures but who merely share a common outlook on society. During this cycle huge followings can arise overnight by a charismatic champion. It can usually be identified with larger rallies and proposals for action fill the air. This cycle is typically brief and brings challenges to covert the masses to a mobilized movement.

This cycle is most frequently driven by the introduction of new champions and new determination of the members. During this cycle it is generally easier to gather an audience and champions develop multiple strands. Unfortunately during this cycle pseudo champions can arise as well with self promotion, power, or ideals outside the collective identity in mind. It is also a danger at this cycle that a breakdown of the movement occurs or the strands will not eventually coalesce. Ideally as multiple strands do form during this cycle and co-evolve at different rates the strongest survive and others commingle to develop later cycles. Where most movements get stuck in this phase or individuals loose interest it is critical to the overall development of the movement and where it generally finds its identity. With this in mind and the numerous factors that may determine the evolution through this cycle

Some migratory or protest movements may be able to operate without formal or centralized organization but most that desire to modify the society will in time come together in some form. This cycle usually coverts excited masses from multiple strands into more disciplined membership and vague random actions into practical enterprise. During this cycle resources are merged and a loose structure is created along with more formalized networks. Individuals and the movement begin to focus more long term and the members work towards more common goals. Most common catalyst for this cycle is the legitimization of the movement or group and power base beginning to change. The duration of this cycle can change widely based on multiple factors and may be very short sue to moving to next cycle or achieving strategic objectives or prolonged do to shortage of resources and people resistant to the evolution to this cycle.

10


Time & Evolution

PR

OC

ES

S M

AT

UR

ITY

Unrest & Agitation



Focus - Uprising of Champion(s)Generate public awareness Personalize the problem focus on beliefs

Hazards - Pushing people into next cycle before they are readyFeeling overwhelmingly powerlessNot recognizing the underline building conditions

Stage 1: Unrest / Agitation – All movements are rooted in some unease. For some it is a feeling of isolation and powerlessness for others it is frustration and being dissatisfied with current affairs.

11


Time & Evolution

PR

OC

ES

S M

AT

UR

ITY

Unrest & Agitation

Inception &

Excitement




Focus - Amplify relative deprivation and movement cultureDevelop smaller reference groups Begin to define movement’s vision and strategy

Hazards - Change due to attacks (internal or external)

Trying to win strategic objectives at this cyclePeople in it for themselves

Sage 2: Inception / Excitement – Unrest is vague, generalized, and unfocused. When it becomes focused and when individuals come together to sustain a campaign in support of a common social goal, we have a movement or collective.

12


Time & Evolution

PR

OC

ES

S M

AT

UR

ITY

Unrest & Agitation

Inception &

Excitement

Identity & Breakout





Focus - Focus the energy and activismIdentify and cultivate champions Clearly define strategic objectivesPrepare and create strategies for opportunities

Hazards - Tyranny of StructurelessnessUnrealistic expectations or timelineShot Gun approach to activitiesSplitter groups may pop up

Stage 3: Identity / Breakout – This cycle is most frequently driven by the introduction of new champions, resources, and / or new determination of the members. During this cycle it is generally easier to gather an audience and new champions develop multiple strands.

13


Time & Evolution

PR

OC

ES

S M

AT

UR

ITY

Unrest & Agitation

Inception &

Excitement

Identity & Breakout

Coalescence &

Formalization





Some migratory or protest movements may be able to operate without formal or centralized organization but most that desire to modify the society will in time come together in some form. This cycle usually coverts excited masses from multiple strands into more disciplined membership and vague random actions into practical enterprise. During this cycle resources are merged and a loose structure is created along with more formalized networks. Individuals and the movement begin to focus more long term and the members work towards more common goals. Most common catalyst for this cycle is the legitimization of the movement or group and power base beginning to change. The duration of this cycle can change widely based on multiple factors and may be very short sue to moving to next cycle or achieving strategic objectives or prolonged do to shortage of resources and people resistant to the evolution to this cycle.

Focus - Tightening your tribe or solidifying collective identity Structure and strategic focus to eventsWin Public Relations BattleEncourage people to become own social change agentsFormalize the collective enterprise

Hazards - Power becomes the groups new internal goalsInfiltration or envelopment by larger organizationCompromising with opposition for victoryLack of resources to create centralized organization Maintaining relative deprivation and / or loss of catalyst

Stage 4: Coalescence / Formalization –This cycle usually coverts excited masses from multiple strands into more disciplined membership and vague random actions into practical enterprise.

14


- have a vision or a goal (it is not really enough to have a passion but you need to translate it into a vision or goal.)

- make it easy for people to connect with you (and the converse of this is that it is easier for you to share your passion/vision with them and begin finding like minded people. If you have a passion and a vision people will begin to follow)

- make it easy for fans to connect with each other (this keeps people sharing the views, ideas, and commonalities with each other and builds open and honest relationships. This helps strengthen and build fans)

- when the fire starts blow on it; don’t stifle it (one of the worst thing you can do is put out a fire. Followers want to be respected for their efforts and ideas. Also though one of the scarcest things you can do is let a fire burn that you may no longer be controlling. But if you are true to your vision it is more important than you and any person)

Starting Your Own Brush Fires


Keeping the Fires Burning

- focus on tighten your group (even though instincts are to try to make it bigger, it pales in effects of making a movement tighter. Allows better communication, builds more fans, more agile for change, focus better on mission)

- remember how you got here (same things that ignited the movement is many times the same things that propitiate it. Vision, emotion, opposition, communication)

- fan the flames from time to time (sometimes highlighting who is not in the group or excluding some can do more for those elite that are part of the group. Feed the emotion and highlight the opposition. Trust the members and fans allow them freedom to develop new ideas. Encourage communication (grateful dead concerts) regular meetings or events. It is ok to be partisan sometimes the more the better. It is ok not to be partisan and not be like everyone else as well. The key sometimes stand out and stand up and let your members discuss it among themselves)



“Hail to the Chief” by Eric WilsonTo be elected to something you generally need just over a majority of the vote over 50% to win. To be a leader of a movement you do not need a majority opinion you really only need one vote or follower. To this point you shouldn’t even care what the majority thinks - most of the time you are challenging the status quo so you most likely will never have majority opinion on your side. Read more…http://brushfireforum.ning.com/profiles/blogs/hail-to-the-chief

“Who Are Your 4%” by Eric WilsonThe real win though is not numbers but turning members into fans, turning “likes” into advocates. Fans will invite 3 friends and promote your mission and a fan will repost what you send out and blog about the movement. Read more…http://brushfireforum.ning.com/profiles/blogs/are-you-a-4 “If it is on the Internet it has to be true:” by Eric WilsonWe may have a wonderful example of an unregulated place where a diverse group of people are thrown together with the freedom to develop on their own. In essence every time you login in to the internet and sign into http://www.brushfireforum.com (or I guess anywhere else) you are part of a social movement – and the web is full of millions of mini-movements. Turns out we may be able to learn a lot of lessons from the World Wide Web. Read more…http://brushfireforum.ning.com/profiles/blogs/on-the-internet Trying to Cut the Head off a Starfish: By Eric WilsonThis is the starfish model and is a decentralized almost leaderless organization. Their success and the basic premise is that more autonomous groups have a better chance at survival than do those which have a traditional top heavy hierarchy. Read more…http://brushfireforum.ning.com/profiles/blogs/starfish

Continue the dialogue and learning and become part of the conversation at www.brushfireforum.com

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