How Grassroots Organizations Reinforced Power Structures They Fought to Resist
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IRONY OF A REVOLUTION: HOW GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATIONS REINFORCED POWER STRUCTURES THEY FOUGHT TO RESIST by TAMARA J. LYNN B.A., Fort Hays State University, 2000 M.L.S., Fort Hays State University, 2006 AN ABSTRACT OF A DISSERTATION submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Social Work College of Arts and Sciences KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY Manhattan, Kansas 2014 Abstract This study is about two grassroots political organizations that formed prior to the 2012 presidential election in the United States, each concerned with the nation's economy, corporate favoritism, government involvement, and growing income inequality. The study outlines an historical account of a culture of control, and then analyzes actions of two contemporary protest organizations – The Tea Party, known as politically conservative; and Occupy Wall Street (OWS), characterized as liberal – as the national election unfolded. Each group sought to change the political landscape and influence the outcome of the presidential election, but with competing messages and very different approaches. Seeking change from the inside, The Tea Party emphasized limited government regulation of the market economy. OWS intended to crumble the system by outside resistance and demanded government attention to economic inequality. Field research and content analysis provide insight into behaviors, beliefs, and actions of each group, which, in turn, identify efforts to resist the status quo. Content analysis of print news provides evidence of state responses toward each group, while also offering insight into media framing and public influence. Finally, a survey of official responses from host communities reveals specific efforts to control protest organizations, ranging from acts of diplomacy to violent opposition. Findings demonstrate how roles of the Tea Party and OWS are not always in conflict, such as media often portray; for example, both groups contested corporate control. The Tea Party met token success, but stopped short of influencing top echelons. OWS brought attention to system inequities, but failed to maintain significant pressure; instead, participants were criminalized for acts of protest. Ironically, in the end, both groups' efforts reinforced the culture of control they sought to resist. Theoretically, a cultural criminology framework, integrating symbolic interaction and social control, demonstrates how structural constraints oppose grassroots political efforts. IRONY OF A REVOLUTION: HOW GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATIONS REINFORCED POWER STRUCTURES THEY FOUGHT TO RESIST by TAMARA J. LYNN B.A., Fort Hays State University, 2000 M.L.S., Fort Hays State University, 2006 A DISSERTATION submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY Department of Sociology, Anthropology and Social Work College of Arts and Sciences KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY Manhattan, Kansas 2014 Approved by: Major Professor Dr. L. Sue Williams, PhD. Copyright TAMARA J. LYNN 2014 Abstract This study is about two grassroots political organizations that formed prior to the 2012 presidential election in the United States, each concerned with the nation's economy, corporate favoritism, government involvement, and growing income inequality. The study outlines an historical account of a culture of control, and then analyzes actions of two contemporary protest organizations – The Tea Party, known as politically conservative; and Occupy Wall Street (OWS), characterized as liberal – as the national election unfolded. Each group sought to change the political landscape and influence the outcome of the presidential election, but with competing messages and very different approaches. Seeking change from the inside, The Tea Party emphasized limited government regulation of the market economy. OWS intended to crumble the system by outside resistance and demanded government attention to economic inequality. Field research and content analysis provide insight into behaviors, beliefs, and actions of each group, which, in turn, identify efforts to resist the status quo. Content analysis of print news provides evidence of state responses toward each group, while also offering insight into media framing and public influence. Finally, a survey of official responses from host communities reveals specific efforts to control protest organizations, ranging from acts of diplomacy to violent opposition. Findings demonstrate how roles of the Tea Party and OWS are not always in conflict, such as media often portray; for example, both groups contested corporate control. The Tea Party met token success, but stopped short of influencing top echelons. OWS brought attention to system inequities, but failed to maintain significant pressure; instead, participants were criminalized for acts of protest. Ironically, in the end, both groups' efforts reinforced the culture of control they sought to resist. Theoretically, a cultural criminology framework, incorporating symbolic interaction and social control, demonstrates how structural constraints oppose grassroots political efforts. Table of Contents List of Figures ..................................................................................................................... x List of Tables ..................................................................................................................... xi Acknowledgements ........................................................................................................... xii Dedication ........................................................................................................................ xiii Chapter 1 - Political Protest within a Culture of Control.................................................... 1 Chapter 2 - Literature Review ........................................................................................... 11 Theoretical Foundations ............................................................................................... 12 A Culture of Control ..................................................................................................... 19 Symbolic Interaction and the Construction of Meaning ............................................... 30 Media – the Fulcrum of Control? ................................................................................. 41 Purpose .......................................................................................................................... 47 Chapter 3 - Methodology .................................................................................................. 49 Qualitative Data and Methods of Observation ............................................................. 52 Analysis ........................................................................................................................ 61 Chapter 4 - Tea Party: Change from Within ..................................................................... 64 Who is the Tea Party? ................................................................................................... 65 Themes .......................................................................................................................... 74 Analytical Summary ..................................................................................................... 90 Chapter 5 - Occupy Wall Street: Change through Resistance .......................................... 96 Who is Occupy Wall Street? ......................................................................................... 97 Themes ........................................................................................................................ 104 Analytical Summary ................................................................................................... 123 Chapter 6 - Media and State Responses: It is about Control .......................................... 128 Media Responses toward Grassroots Organizations ................................................... 129 State Responses toward Grassroots Organizations ..................................................... 146 Analytical Summary ................................................................................................... 156 Chapter 7 - Opposition within a Culture of Control ....................................................... 160 Grassroots Political Organizations .............................................................................. 160 A Perfect Storm .......................................................................................................... 165 viii Key Findings Indicate Barriers to Change .................................................................. 168 Limitations of this Study ............................................................................................. 179 Implications for Future Research ................................................................................ 181 Lessons Learned? ........................................................................................................ 182 Bibliography ................................................................................................................... 188 Appendix A - Operationalization of Research Concepts ................................................ 203 Appendix B - Field Research Observation Checklist ..................................................... 205 Appendix C - Content Analysis Guide ..........................................................................