(One in a series of posts on Mark & Paul Engler’s 2016 book, This Is An Uprising: How Nonviolent Revolt Is Shaping The Twenty-First Century.)
“If whirlwinds represent a climax, what comes next can only be a letdown.” (p. 191) (Or, as that great political philosopher, David Clayton-Thomas, said, “What goes up must come down.“)
One of Bill Moyer’s deepest and (for movement leaders and organizers) most useful insights was the realization that, “after a whirlwind’s flurry of activity dies down, movements predictably experience what he calls the ‘Perception of Failure’“. (p. 192, emphasis added)
There is, so far as we know, no escaping this dynamic, any more than athletes can avoid gasping for air after peak moments of physical activity. The more important point, as Moyer articulated and the Englers reiterate, is that “…past movements which were able to overcome despondency ended up seeing many of their once-distant demands realized. As campaigners move to later phases that involve institutionalizing their gains and capitalizing on the increased public support they have accumulated, they begin reaping what they have sown.” (p. 194)
It is critical for activists/organizers to avoid the downward spiral that follows when they become “ever more insular and isolated from the wider public”. (p. 195) Among the questions—and the organizing habits required to answer them—that can help sustain a movement in the wake of its “moment of the whirlwind” are:
- is the movement still building popular support and shifting public opinion?
- do active supporters and allies still agree with the cause?
- do they agree that the struggle is still worth it?
If the answer to those questions is “yes”, then there’s reason to press on. (If, on the other hand, the answer is “no”, then there’s reason to consult more widely as you rethink your strategy and tactics.)
Crossposted at: https:/masscommons.wordpress.com
