A few years ago I organised a one-off training session on research for activists. It went well and had ... no discernible impact on how anyone did anything. So it goes. I reflected on this - and other training I have been part of as a punter. And I came to the conclusion that unless... Continue Reading →
Resources – tangible and intangible
“Resources can be tangible (e.g. equipment, machinery, finance, human resources) as well as intangible. Intangible resources include assets such as technological know-how, the status or reputation of an actor, its social contacts and network ties. Moreover, resources are conceptualized to be controlled not only by organizations but also by entire industries or emerging technological fields.”... Continue Reading →
Inscribed capacity described
“As Allen (1997) has shown, power can be conceptualized in a variety of ways – as an ‘inscribed capacity’, a collectively produced resource mobilized by groups to achieve particular ends, or as a mobile and diffuse phenomenon realized as a series of ‘strategies, techniques, and practices’.” (Lawhon and Murphy, 2011: 367) Who does the inscribing?... Continue Reading →
The costs of collusion with activist bullshit and hype cycles
When a Shiny New Technology is being hyped, it's in order to pump the stock up, or get venture capital. That's how the hype cycle game is played, and it happens among mostly consenting adults. Fair enough you might say. No hype and nothing gets done (maybe). But when it comes to social movement hype... Continue Reading →
Podcast on #Australia #climate policy #auspol
The very cool people at Beyond Zero Emissions, on 3CR (community radio in Melbourne) interviewed in November. Here's a link to their page about it. (it's cut and paste below) BZE radio talks to Marc Hudson: Marc is studying the strategic responses of the Australian coal industry to the challenge of climate change. He is... Continue Reading →
Sexism and social movements….
‘Sexism isn’t the problem: anyone can talk when they want to,” declared one man. “It’s just that some of us have had more experience and can talk more easily in groups.” “We all support women’s liberation,” chimed in another man. Around the room, reactions spanned a wide range: resentment, distraction, passive interest, eagerness and anxiousness.... Continue Reading →
What do we want? Grumpy old men at the National Library of Australia (book launch!)
Last night at the National Library of Australia two grumpy old men talked about social movements and protest. That doesn’t sound too enthralling, does it? But the event – hosted by the NLA, and the launch of the book “What Do We Want: the story of protest in Australia" was a thoughtful, passionate and... Continue Reading →
Ideas about the festival of ideas #AdlFoI
[Seventh of a series of blog posts about sessions at the Adelaide Festival of Ideas on Saturday 22nd October] So, had a great time at the Adelaide Festival of Ideas today. Met some very interesting people (some famous-ish, some as obscure as me). And while not ever disgruntled, I was also not completely gruntled. I... Continue Reading →
Sustainable jobs in sustainable communities #AdlFoI
[Second of a series of blog posts about sessions at the Adelaide Festival of Ideas on Saturday 22nd October] “Sustainable” is one of those motherhood-and-applie pie words (fnords,if you will) that don’t offer clarity. However John Spoehr, Heather Smith (a friend) and Sean Williams overcame this as far as could be expected in a short session.... Continue Reading →
Keeping together in time: movement-building and mobilising
Most activist events, even (especially?) the ones that are supposed to be energising are, imho, demoralising and dis-visioning. Stale repertoires, ritual denunciations that show us – and others – our powerlessness and lack of imagination.Today, while setting the mood and giving information, an activist used a word you don't hear often - joy. When I... Continue Reading →
