Full Description
This book explores the political worldviews of progressive American social movements and how they play an increasingly important role in defining social problems, setting the national political agenda, and offering viable policy solutions.
Arguing that the liberal consensus that historically held the United States together politically has broken down, this book demonstrates how new forms of authoritarian and democratic populisms are being offered as alternatives to a rigged capitalist system by an unaccountable oligarchy. It utilises the method of frame analysis to elucidate the political worldview of particular, left-leaning social movements, exploring their historical backgrounds, organizing methods, social grievances, policy solutions, current actions, and future goals. It examines three movements concerned with economic issues, three organizing around identity, and three advocating for change in the domain of public safety. The last chapter focuses on the current political situation in the U.S. and potential futures of democracy. Bringing together lessons from U.S. history and the previous chapters, the book ends with a proposal for how to ensure more democratic and egalitarian outcomes in America as a whole.
As such, it offers an important reference for both academics and activists in the fields of sociology, political science, and policy analysis.
Contents
1. Outlining Political Worldview Through Frame Analysis 2. Social Movements to Secure a Living Wage: Fight for $15 3. Social Movements for Resource Distribution: Debt Collective 4. Social Movements to Alleviate Mass Poverty: Poor People's Campaign 5. Social Movements for Minority Racial Identity: Black Lives Matter 6. Social Movements to Ensure Sex Equality: Fourth Wave Feminism 7. Social Movements for Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation: LGBTQ+ 8. Social Movements to Promote a Rapid Green Energy Transition: Sunrise Movement 9. Social Movements for Fully Funding Public Education: Red for Education 10. Social Movements to Oppose Fascist Organizing: American Antifascists 11. The Future of American Democracy
