The Civil Rights Movement And The Logic Of Social Change (cambridge Studies In Contentious Politics)

Social movements have wrought dramatic changes upon American society. This raises the question: Why do some movements succeed in their endeavors while others fail? Luders answers this question by introducing an analytical framework that begins with a shift in emphasis away from the characteristics of movements toward the targets of protests and affected bystanders and why they respond as they do. This shift brings into focus how targets and other interests assess both their exposure to movement disruptions as well as the costs of conceding to movement demands. From this point, diverse outcomes stem not only from a movement's capabilities for protest but also from differences among targets and others in their vulnerability to disruption and the substance of movement goals. Applied to the civil rights movement, this approach recasts conventional accounts of the movement's outcome in local struggles and national politics and clarifies the broader logic of social change. Series Copyright Contents Preface Acknowledgments 1 The Logic of Social Movement Outcomes Costs and Target Responsiveness The Convergence of Disruption and Concession Costs Target Cost Calculations Third Party Responses Defining Movement Impact Theoretical Contribution and Limitations Chapter Overview 2 Civil Rights and Reactive Countermobilization The Civil Rights Challenge to Southern Racial Inequalities The Political Economy of the Plantation South The Citizens’ Council Resource Competition and the White Countermobilization Council and Klan Mobilization in the 1960s Summary 3 The Calculus of Compromise Civil Rights Mobilization and Southern Business Profile of Public Statement Signers White Liberals and Racial “Moderates” Third Party Intervention – The Federal Government Patterns of Cost Assessment Summary 4 Local Struggles Greensboro, North Carolina New Orleans, Louisiana Atlanta, Georgia Albany, Georgia Birmingham, Alabama Greenwood, Mississippi Selma, Alabama Summary 5 Patterns of Regional Change Interpreting Political Costs Movement Outcomes in Public School Desegregation Movement Outcomes in Voter Registration Movement Outcomes in Public Accommodations Movement Demands and Cost Configurations Summary 6 Federal Responses to Civil Rights Mobilization The Development of Civil Rights The Politics of Resistance The Politics of Vacillation The Politics of Accommodation The Civil Rights Act of 1964 The Voting Rights Act of 1965 Fair Housing and Equal Employment Summary 7 Conclusion Cost Variation: Disaggregating Civil Rights Demands Third Party Activity: White Responses to Civil Rights Mobilization Case Studies: Civil Rights and Local Outcomes National Legislative Responses: Public Opinion, Attentiveness, and Benefit-Seekers Social Movements and Policy Change Policy Characteristics Strategic Action and Reaction Policy Implementation: The Politics of Enforcement Implications for Further Research Final Words References Index Social Movements Have Wrought Dramatic Changes Upon American Society. This Observation Necessarily Raises The Question: Why Do Some Movements Succeed In Their Endeavors While Others Fail? This Book Answers This Question By Introducing An Analytical Framework That Begins With A Shift In Emphasis Away From The Characteristics Of Movements Toward The Targets Of Protests And Affected Bystanders, Their Interests, And Why They Respond As They Do. Such A Shift Brings Into Focus How Targets And Other Interests Assess Both Their Exposure To Movement Disruptions As Well As The Costs Of Conceding To Movement Demands. From This Vantage Point, Diverse Outcomes Stem Not Only From A Movement's Capabilities For Protest But Also From Differences Among Targets And Others In Their Vulnerability To Disruption And The Substance Of Movement Goals. Applied To The Civil Rights Movement, This Approach Recasts Conventional Accounts Of The Movement's Outcome In Local Struggles And National Politics, And Also Clarifies The Broader Logic Of Social Change. 1. The Logic Of Social Movement Outcomes -- 2. Civil Rights And Reactive Countermobilization -- 3. The Calculus Of Compromise -- 4. Local Struggles -- 5. Patterns Of Regional Change -- 6. Federal Responses To Civil Rights Mobilization -- 7. Conclusion. Joseph E. Luders. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 215-233) And Index. This book examines the success and failure of social movements to bring about change in American society. Joseph Luders focuses on the targets of protests and affected bystanders, their interests, and their responses to explain the diverse outcomes of social movements