North Central Sociological Association 2012 Ruth and John Useem Plenary Address. Political Renewal: Occupations, Springs, and Tea Parties

Abstract

Novelty is paramount in the development of sociological theory—so much so that sometimes novelty is attributed even when it does not really exist. The study of social movements is hardly exempt from this problem and at times the craving for newness can become palpable. Despite that desire, however, some have concluded that things really have not changed much over a score of years—at least in terms of the implications for theory—but now, we think the time has finally come. Three recent mobilizations have provided us with something new into which we can sink our collective teeth. The Tea Party, the Arab Spring, and Occupy Wall Street represent changes in the motivations and tactics driving social and political change that can renew the study of protest and collective political influence. These three bursts of political behavior reveal important edges of social movement study even as they exhibit roots in the now classic ideas in the field.

Acknowledgments

An earlier version of this paper was presented at the annual meeting of the North Central Sociological Association in Pittsburgh, PA. The authors thank the audience as well as NCSA President Larry Nichols for important comments and suggestions.