For some individuals, social movements to be successful it needs to consist “sustained campaign of claim making, using repeated performances that advertise the claim, based on activities” (Tilly & Tarrow 216). On the other hands of things, author Joel Benin and Marie dub believe otherwise. The idea of social movements and the way it will succeed in the eyes of Benin must include the aspect of the "combination of an authoritarian state and . . . people who do not conceive of themselves as or aspire to be fully autonomous individuals detached from dense networks of families and friends" In any case the in order for a nation to be successful a widespread understanding and agreement within the society. In Tunisia for example it states that it “was held up as a positive example of modernisation in the MENA region and its civil society was considered far more vibrant than in neighboring states (Hardig 36). Tunisia became what it is today when it came to social movement right after his independence, “Tunisia has historical precedence for state organisation and as active civil society role before independence, the state was never fully in control of the civil society space — trade unions, while operating in corporate model as in Egypt, were much more autonomous from the state” (Hardig 37). If there is not any sort of established unified society, they will most likely be unable to successfully transition into a democracy.
I agree that successful social movements must possess an "established unified society" for if one did not exist, the movement would not exist. Rather, the actions taken by citizens would be scattered and lack cohesion. A general consensus among a population must be reached regarding agreeable beliefs and values in order for a social movement to be successful.
ReplyDeleteYou talk about how Tunisia's civil society helped it transition to democracy. However, Bellin would say this usually doesn't help. Maybe the transition to democracy in this state could actually be attributable to other failures of the regime to contain the movement.
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