David S. Meyer
I'm a professor of sociology and political science at the University of California, Irvine. I've been thinking, and writing about, protest politics for almost ever. This site offers comments on contemporary events, informed (I hope) by knowing something about history and about the academic study of social movements.
Tag Archives: violence
Arab Fall
To paraphrase the old Boston politician, revolution ain’t beanbag. The wave of revolutionary action across the Middle East and North Africa about a year and a half ago captured the imagination of democratic reformers around the world. But it wasn’t … Continue reading
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Tagged American revolution, Arab Spring, Egypt, Libya, religion, violence
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Raining out dissent in Tampa
The storms surrounding Hurricane Isaac shortened the Republican convention in Tampa, Florida, and stole some of the headlines Republicans hoped to generate. The rains mostly kept the delegates and party regulars indoors, fairly well insulated from the demonstrators outdoors, who … Continue reading
Occupy Oakland and the militant wing of a movement
Occupy, like all large and successful social movements, includes people with a broad range of political viewpoints and a very diverse range of action strategies. While some activists are working to move inside the political system by lobbying or contesting … Continue reading
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Tagged coalitions, elections, flag, institutions, Jean Quan, media, nonviolence, Occupy, Occupy Oakland, police, violence
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Occupy unbound
Zuccotti Park, home for Occupy Wall Street for two months, is completely irrelevant to the future of the Occupy movement. Now that the activists have been cleared out, we’re watching to see what the most important place will be. In … Continue reading
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Tagged Davis, Day of Action, Occupy, pepper spray, police, students, tactics, tuition, university, University of California, violence, Zuccotti Park
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Violence, democracy, and a general strike
The efforts to clear out Occupiers in Atlanta, Oakland, and San Diego emphasize the difficult stalemate between local governments and the emergent Occupy movement. Although local officials may be mostly sympathetic to the concerns of the Occupiers, they’re also responsible … Continue reading
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Tagged consensus, democracy, general strike, innovation, Oakland, Occupy, police, violence
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Occupation is a tactic; violence demands innovation
Police and Occupiers in Atlanta and Oakland have engaged in violent confrontations, with the protesters getting the worst of it. What’s all this mean? What happens next? Let’s start at the beginning. Protesters are occupying Wall Street–and hundreds of other … Continue reading
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Tagged arrests, Atlanta, innovation, media, nonviolence, Oakland, Occupy, police, tactics, violence
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Managing the fringe
When an estimated 100-200 antiwar activists marched on the National Air and Space museum this weekend, they took the Occupy DC name. Occupy DC, in turn, was a name claimed by already organized groups of activists who wanted to demonstrate … Continue reading
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Tagged Air and Space Museum, American spectator, Occupy Wall Street, Patrick Howley, Paul Hill, violence, Washington DC
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Freedom Rides, 50 years on
Fifty years ago this month, the Freedom Riders put their bodies on the line to test their right to integrated interstate travel and accommodations. Starting tonight, PBS is running a compelling documentary of the events, featuring interviews with many of … Continue reading
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Tagged civil rights, Freedom Rides, John Lewis, Martin Luther King, nonviolence, PBS, violence
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Tipping Points and a “No Fly Zone” in Libya
The Arab Spring has played out differently in each country in which it appeared, largely a function of just who is willing to defect from supporting the regime and throw in with the dissidents. In Egypt, the military was willing … Continue reading
Egyptian revolution: Who won what?
It looks like President Hosni Mubarak has acquiesced to domestic and international pressure in leaving office after thirty years. Even so, there were a number of stutter steps over the past few days. The colorful, dramatic, and diverse demonstrations in … Continue reading
