“Generating Commitment Among Students”

Eric Hirsch

Political Solidarity

Political Solidarity and RecruitmentPolitical Solidarity: identify with or support for a cause is key to getting

people involved.

Impact of Group Process (94) Mobilization can be explained by looking at influ. of several group-based processes:

1) Consciousness-raising2) Collective empowerment3) Polarization4) Group decision-making

Political Solidarity

Consciousness-Raising (94)It involves a group-based discussion where beliefs are

created or reinforced. It can be used to:

1) Communication the legitimacy of a cause 2) The need for certain tactics, 3) The failure of traditional politics.

Limits: Rarely takes place among:

Socially marginal groupsRational calculators

Political Solidarity

Collective Empowerment (95)It is the exp. Where recruits gain a sense of the potential power of a SM.

Polarization (95)Can have both a positive and negative effect

Negative: creates distance between sidesPositive: can create a sense that individual and group fate is tied together.

Columbia Divestment Campaign

Collective-Decision-Making (95)It can make people feel bound by collective decision, if they were able to

have a say in the decision-making process.

The Columbia Divestment Campaign: A Case Study (96)There was a three week long blockade of the Hamilton Hall (classroom and

admin building).

Columbia Divestment Campaign

Collective-Decision-Making (95)It can make people feel bound by collective decision, if they were able to

have a say in the decision-making process.

The Columbia Divestment Campaign: A Case Study (96)There was a three week long blockade of the Hamilton Hall (classroom and

admin building).

Columbia Divestment Campaign

Collective Empowerment: The Initiation of the Blockade Coalition for a Free South Africa (CFSA) which was started in 1981 sought to

raise awareness about the political situation in South Africa. They were moderately successful.

Columbia Divestment Campaign

Consciousness-RaisingThey used a variety of types of setting for CR sessions:

1) Dorm rap sessions, forums, teach-ins. 2) Traditional Means:3) Pushed and rec unanimous consent of faculty,

student senate, but 4) Board of Trustees ignore them.

TacticsTraditional Means:Pushed and received unanimous consent of faculty, student senate, but

Board of Trustees ignore them.

More Radical Tactics: Fasts, Blockade (97)Numbers grew with the danger of the event.

Who Participated?

Who participated in the BlockadeMany who participated were not previously active. (9 % prior to Blockade,

37% part in Blockade)

Source of Mobilization:1) Stds thought it might work.2) Motivated by sacrifice of std CFSA leaders, SF students.

Who Participated?Polarization and Increased Commitment (99) University reacts aggressively:

1) President sends letter calling blockade illegal2) Challenges its legitimacy3) Threatens students with expulsion. 4) Dramatically raised the stakes

Students fated became fused to groups fate: they resisted University scare tactics.

ConclusionCollective-Decision-Making and the End of the Blockade (100) The University waited the students out: as week dragged on, the students

decided to end blockade.