Informing Activists

Welcome to the Informing Activists video project from Mobilizing Ideas, the blog produced by the Center for the Study of Social Movements. Below you will find links for videos of social movement scholars and social scientists answering questions relevant for political and social activists. The series is coordinated by Jennifer Earl and Thomas Elliott, both of the University of Arizona, and in partnership with the Youth Activism Project, which is sponsored by the MacArthur Research Network on Youth and Participatory Politics. Informing Activists includes videos from some of the top scholars in social movements, recommended readings, and other resources on topics ranging from framing to social movement consequences, all tailored to young activists, potential organizers, and/or potential protest participants. We hope you will share this series widely, especially with young people in your communities interested in working for social change.

The MacArthur Research Network on Youth and Participatory Politics (YPP) is a network of ten scholars from various disciplines that have come together to understand how youth are getting involved civically and politically, including through sharing and producing civic and political content online. We are also interested in understanding the risks and opportunities that the use of digital media may play in these engagements. While the network invests in, and members conduct, basic research on these topics, YPP is also dedicated to translating relevant research findings into actionable information for young people, activists, educators, and/or policy-makers.

This video series comes out of that desire to connect young people with critical research on activism. We’ve invited some of the top scholars in the field of social movements to talk about what their research has to say about how to be effective activists. For example, David Snow discusses what advice his pioneering work in framing has for activists looking to improve their messaging. Holly McCammon discusses how her work in strategic adaptation helps guide activists in modifying their strategies to changing contexts. Our goal is that these videos can help current and future activists better plan their campaigns to achieve success.

Make the change you envision!

Do movements make a difference? 

• In what ways do social movements make a difference? – Thomas Elliott
• How/When do movements make a political difference? – Katrin Uba
• How/When do movements affect culture? – Jenn Earl
• When do movements shape public opinion? – Neal Caren
• How does movement participation affect people’s lives? – Marco Giugni
• How do movements influence elections? – Fabio Rojas
• How do I support movements in other countries? – Dana Moss

How do I get (more/new/different) people involved?

• Who Participates in Movements and Why? – Bert Klandermans and Ziad Munson
• What can be done about activist burnout? – Sharon Nepstad
• How can activists avoid burnout? – Hava Gordon
• How do I build identity and solidarity in a movement? – Rachel Einwohner
• How can I build coalitions and increase diversity? – Rich Wood

What should I focus on when I am trying to create change? 

• How much does the political environment affect my cause? – David Meyer
• What are the best tactics for my cause? – Catherine Corrigall-Brown
• How do I use online tools to help my cause? – Lissa Soep
• What are the best targets for my cause? – Tom Maher
• How do I adapt my tactics to the political environment? – Holly McCammon

What should I think about when I am creating an organization?

• When do I need an organization? – Jenn Earl
• How do I work with existing organizations? – Grace Yukich
• How can I build coalitions and increase diversity? – Rich Wood
• What are some considerations for youth in organizations? – Sarah Gaby

How can I be more convincing? 

• How do I talk about my cause? – David Snow
• What do I need to know about the media environment? – Deana Rohlinger

How do I stay safe? 

• What are the risks of activism and can I reduce those risks? – Heidi Reynolds-Stenson
• How can I protect myself legally when I am active online? – Derek Bambauer

What else do I need to know? 

• How might these topics apply to a specific campaign? – Elizabeth Armstrong
• What can activists in the West learn from the Arab Spring? – Atef Said

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