🌍Gender and Global Politics Unit 12 – Resistance and Social Movements

What's This Unit About?

• Explores various forms of resistance and social movements through the lens of gender and global politics
• Examines how marginalized groups organize and mobilize to challenge oppressive systems and structures
• Investigates the strategies, tactics, and goals employed by different resistance and social movements
• Analyzes the role of gender in shaping the dynamics, leadership, and outcomes of these movements
• Considers the historical and contemporary contexts that give rise to resistance and social movements
• Assesses the impact and significance of these movements on local, national, and global scales
• Discusses the challenges and critiques faced by resistance and social movements in their struggles for change

Key Concepts and Theories

• Collective action involves coordinated efforts by individuals or groups to pursue shared goals or interests
• Social movement theory examines the emergence, development, and outcomes of organized collective action
• Resource mobilization theory emphasizes the importance of resources (financial, human, and organizational) in sustaining social movements
• Framing processes involve the construction and communication of ideas, grievances, and solutions to mobilize support
• Repertoires of contention refer to the various tactics and strategies employed by social movements (protests, boycotts, civil disobedience)
• Political opportunity structures shape the chances for movements to achieve their goals based on the openness or closure of political systems
• Intersectionality highlights how multiple forms of oppression and discrimination intersect and shape the experiences of marginalized groups
• Transnational activism involves the coordination of social movements across national borders to address global issues

Historical Context

• Resistance and social movements have a long history, with examples dating back centuries
• The Age of Revolutions (late 18th and early 19th centuries) saw the rise of democratic and nationalist movements challenging monarchical rule
• Labor movements emerged in the 19th and early 20th centuries to advocate for workers' rights and improved working conditions
• Women's suffrage movements fought for the right to vote and political representation in the late 19th and early 20th centuries
• Anti-colonial movements sought to end colonial rule and achieve national independence (Indian independence movement, Algerian War)
• The Civil Rights Movement in the United States (1950s-1960s) challenged racial segregation and discrimination
• Second-wave feminism (1960s-1980s) focused on issues such as reproductive rights, workplace equality, and sexual liberation
• Environmental movements gained prominence in the late 20th century, addressing issues like pollution, deforestation, and climate change

Types of Resistance and Social Movements

• Identity-based movements focus on the rights and empowerment of specific marginalized groups (LGBTQ+ rights, Black Lives Matter)
• Labor movements advocate for workers' rights, fair wages, and improved working conditions (trade unions, labor strikes)
• Environmental movements seek to protect the environment and promote sustainable practices (Greenpeace, Extinction Rebellion)
• Women's movements fight for gender equality, reproductive rights, and an end to gender-based violence (Me Too movement, Women's March)
• Peace movements oppose war, militarism, and violence, promoting peaceful conflict resolution (anti-war protests, nuclear disarmament campaigns)
• Human rights movements defend the fundamental rights and freedoms of individuals and groups (Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch)
• Indigenous rights movements fight for the rights, land, and cultural preservation of Indigenous peoples (Standing Rock protests, Zapatista movement)
• Student movements mobilize students to advocate for educational reform, social justice, and political change (May 1968 protests in France, Tiananmen Square protests)

Case Studies and Examples

• The Anti-Apartheid Movement in South Africa fought against the racist apartheid system and achieved majority rule in 1994
• The Solidarity Movement in Poland challenged the communist regime and played a key role in the country's transition to democracy
• The Arab Spring (2010-2012) saw a wave of pro-democracy uprisings across the Middle East and North Africa (Tunisia, Egypt, Libya)
• The Occupy Movement (2011) protested against economic inequality and the influence of corporations on politics
• The Umbrella Movement in Hong Kong (2014) advocated for democratic reforms and greater autonomy from China
• The Ni Una Menos movement in Latin America campaigns against gender-based violence and femicide
• The Fridays for Future movement, inspired by Greta Thunberg, mobilizes youth to demand action on climate change
• The Farmers' Protests in India (2020-2021) opposed controversial agricultural laws and sought to protect farmers' livelihoods

Intersectionality in Movements

• Intersectionality recognizes that individuals' experiences are shaped by the intersection of multiple identities (race, gender, class, sexuality)
• Movements that embrace intersectionality acknowledge the diverse experiences and needs within their constituencies
• Intersectional approaches help build solidarity across different marginalized groups and avoid reproducing hierarchies within movements
• The Combahee River Collective, a Black feminist organization, coined the term "identity politics" to highlight the interconnectedness of oppression
• The Women's March (2017) aimed to be inclusive of women from diverse backgrounds, but faced criticisms of marginalization and tokenism
• The Movement for Black Lives incorporates intersectional perspectives, addressing issues like police brutality, economic inequality, and LGBTQ+ rights
• Indigenous women's movements often address the intersection of gender, race, and colonialism in their struggles for rights and self-determination

Global Impact and Significance

• Resistance and social movements have the power to bring about significant social, political, and cultural changes
• Successful movements can inspire and provide models for other struggles around the world (anti-apartheid movement, Arab Spring)
• Transnational solidarity networks enable movements to share resources, strategies, and support across borders
• Social media and digital technologies have transformed the way movements organize, mobilize, and communicate their messages globally
• Movements can pressure governments and international organizations to adopt policies and agreements that address global issues (Paris Agreement on climate change)
• The achievements of resistance and social movements can have long-lasting effects on societies, expanding rights, freedoms, and opportunities for marginalized groups
• Movements can contribute to shifts in public opinion, social norms, and cultural attitudes, paving the way for further progress

Challenges and Critiques

• Resistance and social movements often face repression, violence, and backlash from those in power (state violence, surveillance, infiltration)
• Movements may struggle with internal divisions, power imbalances, and conflicts over strategies, goals, and leadership
• The media can misrepresent or undermine movements, shaping public perceptions and support
• Movements may face challenges in sustaining momentum, mobilization, and resources over time
• Critics argue that some movements prioritize the interests of privileged groups within their constituencies, marginalizing others
• Movements may be co-opted or compromised by powerful actors, diluting their transformative potential
• The focus on identity politics in some movements has been criticized for fragmenting solidarity and obscuring shared struggles
• Measuring the impact and success of movements can be difficult, as change is often gradual, complex, and contested