Category Archives: Uncategorized

Why Movement Candidates Always Disappoint

The Tea Party, like many American protest movements, jumped into the electoral fray quickly.  This is the way our system is set up; frequent elections mean that activists always seem to have the chance to replace politicians they don’t like … Continue reading

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The Tea Party and Grassroots Democracy

Morning Edition features an interview with journalist Jonathan Rauch, discussing the tea party in general, and his article in the current edition of the National Journal.  Some segments of the movement are determined to serve the grassroots under any circumstances, … Continue reading

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Purity versus Pragmatism

The Tea Party, like all social movements in America, is facing the dilemma of making inroads in mainstream politics or focusing on articulating its message as clearly as possible.  By virtually all accounts (e.g., NY Times here), the Republican nomination … Continue reading

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The Numbers Game

When activists stage an event, they want to impress others with their commitment, unity, their worthiness, and their numbers.  (This formulation is from the great sociologist, Charles Tilly.) They want to show their opponents that they are strong and powerful–and … Continue reading

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March for tolerance?

Religious Freedom USA reports that 1,000 people marched in lower Manhattan to support tolerance for religious diversity (in general) and the establishment of a new Islamic center a few blocks from Ground Zero. Apparently, most of the marchers were local–and … Continue reading

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