View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by University of Oregon Scholars' Bank FRAMING NEOLIBERALISM: THE COUNTER-HEGEMONIC FRAMING OF THE GLOBAL JUSTICE, ANTIWAR, AND IMMIGRANT RIGHTS MOVEMENTS by CHRISTOPHER HARDNACK A DISSERTATION Presented to the Department of Sociology and the Graduate School of the University of Oregon in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy September 2015 DISSERTATION APPROVAL PAGE Student: Christopher Hardnack Title: Framing Neoliberalism: The Counter-hegemonic Framing of the Global Justice, Antiwar, and Immigrant Rights Movements This dissertation has been accepted and approved in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy degree in the Department of Sociology by: Michael Dreiling Chairperson John Bellamy Foster Core Member Gregory McLauchlan Core Member Daniel Hosang Institutional Representative and Scott L. Pratt Dean of the Graduate School Original approval signatures are on file with the University of Oregon Graduate School. Degree awarded September 2015 ii © 2015 Christopher Hardnack iii DISSERTATION ABSTRACT Christopher Hardnack Doctor of Philosophy Department of Sociology September 2015 Title: Framing Neoliberalism: The Counter-hegemonic Framing of the Global Justice, Antiwar, and Immigrant Rights Movements This dissertation explores how three social movements deployed an anti-neoliberal master frame during the course of a multi-movement protest wave. Using ethnographic content analysis. I examine the Global Justice (GJM), Antiwar (AWM), and Immigrant Rights movements (IRM) of the 2000s to offer a theoretical synthesis of the framing perspective in social movements and Gramscian hegemony, which I call the counter- hegemonic framing approach. This approach links the contested discursive practices of social movements to historically specific political-economic contexts to offer a macro framework to make sense of this meso-level activity that illuminates the development of a counter-hegemonic master frame. I apply this approach in case studies of each movement and a culminating incorporated comparison. In the GJM chapter, I found that the GJM frames neoliberal institutions such as the World Trade Organization, World Bank, and International Monetary Fund as influenced by corporate power. Second, the GJM amplifies the symptoms of neoliberal globalization such as global inequality and environmental degradation. Third, there is a master frame specific to neoliberalism which defines neoliberal globalization as a corporate project that seeks to reduce environmental, human rights, and labor regulations by eroding sovereignty in order to open markets and increase iv profits. For the AWM, I found that the movement integrated the context of both rollback and rollout neoliberalism into their framing to build opposition to the Afghan and Iraq War. In addition, following the corporate power frame of the GJM, the AWM problematizes the involvement of corporations in foreign policy discussions. For the IRM, I found that one of the central goals of their framing was to deflect blame away from undocumented immigrants. There are two ways the IRM accomplished this. First, the IRM emphasized the economic contributions of immigrants. Second, the IRM emphasized the impact of neoliberal globalization as a cause of increased immigration and social problems for which migrants were blamed. Finally, in an incorporated comparison of these case studies I found a distinct anti-neoliberal “repertoire of interpretation,” which forms the basis of an anti- neoliberal master frame that emphasizes US hegemony, corporate power, economic inequality, and neoliberal rollout. v CURRICULUM VITAE NAME OF AUTHOR: Christopher Hardnack GRADUATE AND UNDERGRADUATE SCHOOLS ATTENDED: University of Oregon, Eugene, OR California State University San Marcos, San Marcos, CA Grossmont College, El Cajon, CA Biola University, Los Angeles, CA DEGREES AWARDED: Doctor of Philosophy, Sociology, 2014, University of Oregon Master of Science, Sociology, 2011, University of Oregon Master of Arts, Sociological Practice, 2007, CSU San Marcos Bachelor of Arts, Sociology, 2005, CSU San Marcos AREAS OF SPECIAL INTEREST: Political Sociology Social Movements Social Theory PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE: Assistant Professor of Sociology, Colorado Mesa University, 2015--present Adjunct Instructor of Sociology, National University, 2008-2015 GRANTS, AWARDS, AND HONORS: Lawrence Carter Graduate Student Research Award, Department of Sociology, University of Oregon, 2013 Graduate Student Publication Award, Department of Sociology, University of Oregon. 2012 Distinguished Graduate Teaching Award, Department of Sociology, University of Oregon. 2011 vi PUBLICATIONS: Hardnack, Chris. 2014. Using Day-to-day Activities to Illustrate Durkheim’s Concept of Organic Solidarity.” Exercise published in TRAILS: Teaching Resource and Innovations Library for Sociology. Washington DC: American Sociological Association. (http://trails.asanet.org) Hardnack, Chris. 2011. “More than an Activist: Identity Competition and Participation in a Revolutionary Socialist Organization.” Qualitative Sociology Review. Vol 7, Issue 2. Hardnack, Chris. 2009. “The Democrats: A Critical History.” Lance Selfa. Socialism and Democracy Vol. 23. No. 2 (Book Review) vii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The support and encouragement I received while embarking on this journey truly overwhelms me. So many people helped me accomplish my goal of getting a PhD that it will be impossible to give everyone their due, but I will try. First and foremost, my wife and friend Elizabeth Schramm, who always believed in me, even though there were times when goals I set for myself seemed out of reach. I cannot thank her enough for her love, encouragement and support. I am especially proud and thankful for how brave she was for moving away from family and friends just so I could accomplish this goal. I’m thankful for my parents, Joe and Gitta, who encouraged me to be curious and think critically, and whose sacrifices and hard work laid the foundation for everything I have achieved. I also have to thank my Eugene family: Dave Dominguez, Miriam Abelson, Shelley Grosjean, Ryan Wishart, Wes Shirley, Sarah Cribbs, Katie Rogers, and Aliza Fones. I will appreciate our friendship for the rest of my life, and hope that we all continue to nurture and support each other. Back home, I should include my comrades in the San Diego ISO. Despite all my years of education, nothing intellectually challenged or prepared me more than the continuous education and debate we engaged in. I am forever indebted to Kyle Long and his family, who always seemed to provide a way out for me when life put me in a bind. Finally, the Schramm and Agosta family for all of their encouragement and support and for showing me the importance of family. I have had several wonderful mentors at Oregon and CSU San Marcos including Michael Dreiling, John Bellamy Foster, Greg McLauchlan, Val Burris, Caleb Southworth, Jocelyn Hollander, Don Barrett, and Sharon Elise. Their guidance and support was integral to my success as an academic. Finally, I need to affirm my son viii Griffin, who taught me that this dissertation is not that important. I hope that when he grows older he will draw inspiration from, and appreciate the persistence and dedication his father needed to get his PhD. This research was supported by the Department of Sociology’s Lawrence Carter Graduate Student Research Award. ix For Joe Hardnack x TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter Page I. INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................... 1 Project Overview ................................................................................................... 4 Overview of the Chapters ...................................................................................... 6 II. FRAMING, HEGEMONY, AND NEOLIBERALISM: TOWARD A COUNTER-HEGEMONIC FRAMING APPROACH ............................................... 10 Social Movements .................................................................................................. 11 Mainstream Paradigms of Social Movement Theory ...................................... 12 Marxian and Political-Economy Approaches .................................................. 16 The Framing Perspective ....................................................................................... 23 Classical Origins and Contemporary Usage .................................................... 24 Framing Processes ...................................................................................... 25 Framing in Movement and Coalitional Context .............................................. 27 Frames and Protest Cycles ............................................................................... 28 Frames and Ideology ........................................................................................ 30 Gramscian Hegemony ............................................................................................ 32 The Counter-hegemonic Framing Approach ......................................................... 36 The Political-Economic Context of Neoliberalism ................................................ 40 The Intellectual Origins of Neoliberalism ....................................................... 42 Economics of Neoliberalism ............................................................................ 45 Political Project Based on Class