Sidney Tarkley In The 60's Analysis
The Truth Behind Tarrow’s Theory
As stated in Sidney Tarrow’s Power In Movement, “[social movements are defined as] collective challenges, based on common purposes and social solidarities, in sustained interaction with elites, opponents, and authorities” (Tarrow 4). The 1960’s as depicted in the film “Berkley in the 60’s” was a moment in history in which there were much social movement by groups of people in America. Tarrow’s cycle of contentious acts and social movement is definitely depicted throughout the entire film but especially during the start of the free speech movement on the UC Berkley campus and during the anti-Vietnam movements as shown in the film. It is during both of these onerous demonstrations that Tarrow’s cycle is …show more content…
clearly seen.
The free speech movement on the UC Berkley campus was a moment in which students stood for what they believed to be true. In most cases, being on campus is the first time students are away from home and it is on campus in which students search for a greater purpose in life than just receiving an education from this “knowledge factory.” Students at the time were unhappy with the campus up scaling to accommodate more students and further more having the largest campus at the time allowed for the exchange of various ideas in a very quick manner. Tarrow states, “changing opportunities must be seen alongside more stable structural elements like the strength or weakness of the state and the forms of repression it habitually employs” (Tarrow 71). In order for Tarrow’s contentious cycle to even begin, there must be an opening for opportunity for political opposition. This is what was observed in Berkley. Students saw an opening and took advantage of it and sought it out to explore oneself and find a purpose in life. Then, although there is not one form of movement organization he did note mobilizing structures as, “a resource which allows contentious acts to be sustained as social
movements” (Tarrow 123). This is exactly what was observed at Berkley. The free speech movement occurred at the main plaza in which every student passed by which created a stronger backing as more and more students came on board. Through this cycle it can be seen that on Berkley’s campus students were able to successfully frame and take a leadership position in which the rest of the student body then followed. Some may state that Jasper’s idea of culture is why many students decided to join the rally but in reality without a leader spreading the initial thought there would not have been a gather of students spreading ideas in the main plaza. Tarrow’s view fits perfectly with the chorological events that lead to the free speech movement on Berkley’s campus. It is also observed in the film that during the antiwar protests Tarrow’s contentious cycle is prevalent and is clearly seen. First, the government gave the people political opportunity to protest and gather as they focused much of their attention on the war broad and disregarded much of the small opposition of the war, as that is usual with every action the government takes. However, with the opportunity present, leaders emerged and gathered a stronger and stronger backing by people who wanted the United States to keep peace and not go to war. Tarrow went on to state, “the most effective forms of organization are based on partly autonomous and contextually rooted local unites linked by connective structures, and coordinated by formal organizations (Tarrow 124). People are better able to mobilize when there is structure. As seen in both, after the cycle has reached its last stage there is almost definitely a state, or higher authority, response. In this case, the antiwar parades and effort to block the drafting office were disregarded and life went on. Police made sure the protestors did not interfere with drafting registration and the movement had little to no effect on stopping young men from going to war. Jasper may add that the only reason the effort was so large is because people wanted to be apart of something greater than themselves and feels as if they contributed to a good cause in their mind. Jasper would also state that most people are there for multiple reasons and some just tag along for the experience and because that is what the mass is doing. Each step of Tarrow’s contentious movement cycle can be clearly seen; from the open political opportunity presented by the state to the actual mobilization of people to stop the war which ultimately led to the state’s response to either repress the movement or ignore it completely just as long as it is a peaceful movement. The 1960’s were a crazy period of American history in which new ideas were circulating and this contentious behavior sprouted. The film Berkley in the 60’s did a phenomenal job going through both the free speech movement and the anti-Vietnam war protests that occurred during this period. Through the film it was clearly seen that Sidney Tarrow’s cycle of contentious action is justified as with each demonstration every step of the cycle was fulfilled and the whole was able to move forward.
As stated in Sidney Tarrow’s Power In Movement, “[social movements are defined as] collective challenges, based on common purposes and social solidarities, in sustained interaction with elites, opponents, and authorities” (Tarrow 4). The 1960’s as depicted in the film “Berkley in the 60’s” was a moment in history in which there were much social movement by groups of people in America. Tarrow’s cycle of contentious acts and social movement is definitely depicted throughout the entire film but especially during the start of the free speech movement on the UC Berkley campus and during the anti-Vietnam movements as shown in the film. It is during both of these onerous demonstrations that Tarrow’s cycle is …show more content…
clearly seen.
The free speech movement on the UC Berkley campus was a moment in which students stood for what they believed to be true. In most cases, being on campus is the first time students are away from home and it is on campus in which students search for a greater purpose in life than just receiving an education from this “knowledge factory.” Students at the time were unhappy with the campus up scaling to accommodate more students and further more having the largest campus at the time allowed for the exchange of various ideas in a very quick manner. Tarrow states, “changing opportunities must be seen alongside more stable structural elements like the strength or weakness of the state and the forms of repression it habitually employs” (Tarrow 71). In order for Tarrow’s contentious cycle to even begin, there must be an opening for opportunity for political opposition. This is what was observed in Berkley. Students saw an opening and took advantage of it and sought it out to explore oneself and find a purpose in life. Then, although there is not one form of movement organization he did note mobilizing structures as, “a resource which allows contentious acts to be sustained as social
movements” (Tarrow 123). This is exactly what was observed at Berkley. The free speech movement occurred at the main plaza in which every student passed by which created a stronger backing as more and more students came on board. Through this cycle it can be seen that on Berkley’s campus students were able to successfully frame and take a leadership position in which the rest of the student body then followed. Some may state that Jasper’s idea of culture is why many students decided to join the rally but in reality without a leader spreading the initial thought there would not have been a gather of students spreading ideas in the main plaza. Tarrow’s view fits perfectly with the chorological events that lead to the free speech movement on Berkley’s campus. It is also observed in the film that during the antiwar protests Tarrow’s contentious cycle is prevalent and is clearly seen. First, the government gave the people political opportunity to protest and gather as they focused much of their attention on the war broad and disregarded much of the small opposition of the war, as that is usual with every action the government takes. However, with the opportunity present, leaders emerged and gathered a stronger and stronger backing by people who wanted the United States to keep peace and not go to war. Tarrow went on to state, “the most effective forms of organization are based on partly autonomous and contextually rooted local unites linked by connective structures, and coordinated by formal organizations (Tarrow 124). People are better able to mobilize when there is structure. As seen in both, after the cycle has reached its last stage there is almost definitely a state, or higher authority, response. In this case, the antiwar parades and effort to block the drafting office were disregarded and life went on. Police made sure the protestors did not interfere with drafting registration and the movement had little to no effect on stopping young men from going to war. Jasper may add that the only reason the effort was so large is because people wanted to be apart of something greater than themselves and feels as if they contributed to a good cause in their mind. Jasper would also state that most people are there for multiple reasons and some just tag along for the experience and because that is what the mass is doing. Each step of Tarrow’s contentious movement cycle can be clearly seen; from the open political opportunity presented by the state to the actual mobilization of people to stop the war which ultimately led to the state’s response to either repress the movement or ignore it completely just as long as it is a peaceful movement. The 1960’s were a crazy period of American history in which new ideas were circulating and this contentious behavior sprouted. The film Berkley in the 60’s did a phenomenal job going through both the free speech movement and the anti-Vietnam war protests that occurred during this period. Through the film it was clearly seen that Sidney Tarrow’s cycle of contentious action is justified as with each demonstration every step of the cycle was fulfilled and the whole was able to move forward.