"Respectability" politics not the right phrase. Protests can be "respectable" or not— and be effective for goals. Key is strategic thinking.
-
-
Replying to @zeynep
It doesn't take much strategic thinking to realize throwing eggs at random, outnumbered, alone Trump supporter woman won't help stop Trump.
1 reply 29 retweets 51 likes -
Replying to @zeynep
There have been many "non-respectable" protests that have been quite effective. But all the ones I know required intense self-regulation.
1 reply 9 retweets 24 likes -
Replying to @zeynep
In fact, non self-regulating, non-strategic thinking protests movements often backfire, even those with the most resonant, legitimate cause.
1 reply 10 retweets 29 likes -
Replying to @zeynep
If a protest movement does not self-regulate & consciously decide its boundaries, it gets defined by its noisy, flamboyant outliers. Always.
3 replies 29 retweets 62 likes -
Replying to @zeynep
As a lifelong participant, observer, scholar & often sympathizer of many protest movements: thoughtless protests can, do and will backfire.
4 replies 18 retweets 35 likes -
Replying to @zeynep
Trump has many obstacles; he's likely to lose. Except authoritarian demagogues do better when anxiety & sense of uncontrolled chaos goes up.
2 replies 29 retweets 49 likes -
Replying to @zeynep
This decade's wave of protests had it almost all: resonance, legitimacy, numbers. The one thing they didn't: strategic thinking & control.
2 replies 17 retweets 26 likes -
Replying to @zeynep
I know younger protesters don't listen to older folks urging strategy. Still, whoever you are, please don't succumb to pressure to affirm.
2 replies 10 retweets 17 likes -
Replying to @zeynep
Don't confuse "respectability" politics with criticism of self-absorbed acts under guise of protest—this irresponsibility will have victims.
1 reply 14 retweets 22 likes
"Respectability" politics deserves criticism when protesters are directed to please those in power. Strategic thinking is something else.
-
-
Replying to @zeynep
Strategic thinking focuses on the goal—stop Trump—and wonders how different trajectories would play out and then self-regulates accordingly.
1 reply 15 retweets 20 likes -
Replying to @zeynep
/end another thread nobody will listen to. Sad to say I watched this play out in last decade's protest movements and.. I know how it can go.
6 replies 5 retweets 17 likes - Show replies
New conversation -
Loading seems to be taking a while.
Twitter may be over capacity or experiencing a momentary hiccup. Try again or visit Twitter Status for more information.