A discussion on the way that the punk subculture re-emerged in recent years in response to the rise of the far right in Switzerland and as part of the international anti-fascist and anti-globalization movements.
Abstract The paper focuses on the evolution of punk and its mutation into the more politically charged anarcho-punk movement and explores the violent side of the extreme left - both as an international force and in particular in Switzerland. The paper then discusses the Bern-based Antifa Switzerland group and explores the motivations of the Black Bloc anarchists. The paper highlights the use of violence in the anti-fascist movement and the connection between today's violent anarcho-punks with the ideals of the original punk movement. Several photographs are included with the paper.
Outline:
Introduction
Punk's First Wave
Punk Arrives in Switzerland
Switzerland, Anarcho-Punk, and Post-war Politics in the 21st Century
Conclusion
From the Paper "The media, however, interpreted the punks' image, music, and reckless behavior as a real threat to the status quo. This culminated in December of 1976 when the Sex Pistols and members of the Bromley Contingent appeared on the Bill Grundy television show in England. At the time of this momentous event, punk was still in its early stages. The public-at-large had little way of knowing about punk at the time. What they saw was a group of extravagantly dressed young people, visibly intoxicated, who took relish in using offensive words and insulting the host of the program in a manner that went way beyond the accepted morals of the time. The Bill Grundy episode would spiral the fledgling youth subculture into the wider cultural spotlight. At that point, punk was no longer a tiny subculture, but a mass media spectacle that would shock the conservative British public and inspire similar-minded youth all over the world."
Abstract This paper discusses how in terms of ideologies, actions, and goals that exist, or should exist in order for the anti-globalization movement to develop into a successful global social movement, there is general agreement that there must be a greater emphasis on social and political issues such as gender equality, and economic issues such as product music and entertainment product copyright protection. The paper further discusses that these are only two of a multitude of important issues that need to be addressed, but they reflect the anti-globalization movement's fundamental goal of protecting the social, political, and economic rights of individuals, groups, and societies as globalization expands. For example, globalization has presented many challenges and opportunities for the transnational women's movement.
Abstract In this article, the writer reviews the book "Burger's Daughter" by Nadine Gordimer. The writer explores many of the issues in the book, including the arrest of political prisoners. The writer also discusses the anti-apartheidmovement supported in South Africa by many people, including white liberals and leftists.
From the Paper "In the novel 'Burger's Daughter', Nadine Gordimer tells the story of a young woman's slowly evolving identity in the turbulent political environment of South Africa before the end of white rule and the apartheid system in that country. Her father's death in prison after being convicted of treason for opposing many of the laws that helped make the apartheid system function, and her mother's death left Rosa Burger alone to explore the intricacies of what it actually means to be Burger's daughter in a nation divided by apartheid ..."
Abstract This paper examines the often violent and coercive tactics of anti-abortion movements, looks at some of the more famous anti-abortion leaders, explores the motivations of these leaders and the movements that follow them, and discusses the perception by many that the anti-abortion movement is just one part of a broader, more conservative, anti-feminist, political agenda.
From the Paper "Both the pro-life and anti-abortion movements are motivated by one concept: that human personhood begins at conception. To these groups an embryo and a fetus are all human persons who should be granted the same rights, privileges and protections as a child or adult (Violence & harassment at U.S. abortion clinics). Operation Rescue is an anti-abortion organization that states that it is dedicated to the protection of children in the womb and their mothers who are exploited by abortion. The group declares that "We work in every way we can to manifest the truth of God concerning abortion" (Operation Rescue Colorado). Unfortunately, "every way we can" includes violence, murder and the misuse of religion to inspire what any moral individual could only interpret as unholy acts."
Abstract This paper reviews sex education programs in the public schools. The author critiques the effort of the anti-contraception movement to suppress information about sexuality.
Abstract This paper asserts that in order to understand the reasons and roots of apartheid, one must first understand the history of South Africa. The author therefore provides a detailed historical account of South Africa from the fifteenth century until today, including colonization, slavery, industrial development and the leadership of Hendrik French Verwoerd, the prime minister responsible for introducing apartheid. The second half of the paper is devoted to a study of the anti-apartheidmovement, culminating in the election of Nelson Mandela.
From the Paper "Until the fifteenth century tribes in South Africa remained isolated from the rest of the world. However, late in the fifteenth century the Portuguese began to explore the western coastline of South Africa in search of an easier route to Asia. By1497, five years after Christopher Columbus had crossed the Atlantic under Portuguese patronage, Vasco da Gama led a Portuguese expedition that rounded the tip of South Africa, sailed along the east African coastline, and then crossed the Indian Ocean reaching Calicut, India."
Abstract The paper describes the best known anti-poverty movement in the United States, the "Poor People's Campaign" (PPC) in the 1960s that eventually failed, and the 2005 "Make Poverty History" (MPH) movement, which is no longer active. The paper looks at the movement's accomplishments, which included the writing off of $40 billion in debt owed by eighteen poor countries by the World Bank. The paper then looks at the views that these efforts to reduce debt for impoverished nations was something of a failure.
Outline:
Antipoverty Program in the U.S.
International Anti-Poverty Program
From the Paper "The core issue in this movement was - and is - poverty in America. Indeed, the SCLC of Greater Los Angeles continues this program with collaboration from groups such as the AFL-CIO, LA Unified School District, NAACP, faith communities, Mothers In Action, National Black Business Council, The Los Angeles Sentinel (newspaper), Coop Employment Service, among others. There is an ongoing pre-apprentice program set up by the SCLC of Los Angeles, with programs to train poor people to get jobs as electricians, carpenters, operating engineers, steel workers, pipe fitters, plumbers and crane operators, according to the literature. Recently, the Southern California Edison company funded the pre-apprentice program for one year."
Abstract This paper describes the beginnings, the leaders and the motivations behind the anti-Vietnam War movement of the 1960s. The paper also takes a look at how much the anti-war movement actually affected U.S. action in the Vietnam War and what lessons were learned from the protest.
From the Paper "The beginning of the Anti-War Movement can be found in the Free Speech Movement that had already taken hold at universities across the nation. At Berkeley, Mario Savio, having taught lessons on freedom in McComb, Mississippi in what was to become known as Freedom Summer, began the movement. Involved in the Civil Rights Movement, Savio saw a correlation of the oppression of blacks in the South, the war in Vietnam, and free dissemination of information on university campuses. Savio believed that students were entitled, under the First Amendment, to practice Free Speech on their campuses."
Tags: john, f., kennedy, youth, country, america, involved, students, adults, change, united, states
Abstract This paper questions whether the anti-war sentiment in the US shortened the Vietnam War. The author contends that protesters succeeded in creating a certain consciousness of war activities within the American public. It is argued that the public had only begun to question the war once it was apparent that it had continued for many years, and that there was some feeling that once committed, America could not withdraw without achieving victory. By analyzing the government's reaction to several anti-war incidences in US, the paper argues the government did not have a deep understanding of the anti-war sentiment. Therefore, the anti-war movement could not have impacted the war to such an extent as to shorten it.
From the Paper "Vietnam was a situation that seemed to develop slowly in the consciousness of the American public so that much of the country seemed to discover rather suddenly that the nation was enmeshed in a growing war to which there seemed no end. In truth, America had been involved in Vietnam for many years before the issue became the catalyst for social protest and political reprisals in the U.S., and for much of that time the public ignored what was taking place. American involvement actually started in 1954, and at that time it was the French who had been caught in the Vietnamese quagmire (Chafe 259). Full American involvement was contemplated prior to 1954 and rejected, in part because Eisenhower did not believe that a military victory was possible because of the political situation in the region, since the people supported the Viet Minh and identified Ho Chi Minh as the leader of their independence movement (Scheer 274-275)."
Abstract The paper discusses the nature of anti-racism and traces its roots as far back as literature will allow. The paper attempts to understand the nature of racism today and why the anti-racism movement seems to have had less influence than is believed on the historical standard of racism and exclusivity of power. The paper answers the question: Why was the influence of racism greater than that of anti-racism, and is racism still the dominant sociological thought or, is the culture finally seeking a more egalitarian standard and structure?
From the Paper "Though racist acts can also be derived from beliefs built in true racism, as many would argue, saying something is different is not the same as saying something is less than, even though the resulting laws and regulations give the distinct impression at varying times that this is true. To many, and especially to those who have been separated and subjugated, based on race the concepts are one in the same as many argue the idea that "separate is not necessarily equal." In many ways this is very true as the dominant culture will allocate resources and opportunities for its own race above another and the resulting situation, as is seen in early reformation and even reactionary "Jim Crow laws" the nature of separate creating a sense of inferiority and subsequent superiority as a result of the fact that most municipalities have a difficult time allocating resources to one infrastructure, let alone two separate ones. It can be argued that those in power when given a fixed set of resources will always allocate more for its own than for others."
Tags: racist, society, ancient, vintage, resources, opportunities, archaic, feudal, system
Abstract This paper shows how the powers of social movements are derived primarily from injustice in society. The paper looks at the civil rights, feminist and anti-war movements in the nineteen-sixties that demonstrated how once a social movement gains momentum it can produce wider public dissatisfaction with the status quo and compel elected officials to take action against injustice. The paper points out, however, that the power to affect social change in society tends to be fluid, for once a social movement achieves a certain degree of social change, it meets increasing resistance, which reduces its power.
From the Paper "The Civil Rights Movement of the nineteen-sixties began because of Rosa Parks and the Montgomery, Alabama bus boycott in 1955, which inspired African-Americans to increase their efforts to win equality. Parks (1999) notes that a few years later, when Attorney General Robert Kennedy sent the FBI into the South in 1962 to enforce laws, prevent violence, and protect civil rights activists, it sent a strong message that the time for racial justice had arrived and that racial segregation must be ended."
Abstract The paper explains that counterculture movements of the sixties radically questioned the pervading views pertaining to political, cultural and social conventions of American society. The paper focuses particularly on the anti-war movements, the human rights and liberties movements and the general youth cultural or 'hippie' movement that all rejected the conventional values of society.
From the Paper "The sixties were a time of change, and more importantly of changing perceptions within American and Western culture about the meaning of social as well as personal life. The common thread that runs through all the aspects, events and movements in this turbulent period is that of the interrogation and questioning of the status quo. If there is one common element that joins the various strands, ideas and movements of this period it is a feeling of dissatisfaction with the way that society was run. This led to the often outspoken and even violent expression of these feelings that characterized many of the events that we associate with society during this time."
Abstract This paper begins with an analysis of an on-line article that refers to the American "attack" on terrorism. The article assumes an anti-war stance and this essay examines the social movements of anti-war sentiments in relation to this particular article, as well as in relation to other anti-war movements in America. It is a sociological analysis of social collectives, and describes both American and Canadian anti-war movements, with direct reference to U.S. military and politics.
Abstract This paper explains that the first call for the abolishment of liquor, which led to the formation of the temperance movement in the 1820s, can be traced backed to 1780 and the Quakers and the Methodists when alcohol began to become a widespread American problem. The author points out that the Anti-Saloon League, founded in 1893, provided the momentum to press individual states to adopt anti-liquor restrictions, which led to the Webb-Kenyon Act, in 1913, which was the catalyst for the Eighteenth Amendment, establishing the prohibition of alcohol in the United States. The paper concludes that the greatest factor in the downfall of the prohibition movement was its own success because by enacting a federal prohibition law, elected officials removed the liquor issue from the political arena and lessened the stronghold of the temperance movement over them.
From the Paper "By 1929, organizations were forming to call for the repeal of the Eighteenth Amendment. WONPR and the Association Against the Prohibition Amendment (AAPA) would be the most influential. Both of these organizations used the Depression to bolster their stance, much as the League had used World War I. They stressed the potential tax savings that would result from lifting the ban on alcohol. They also pointed to the lessening of organized crime and violence as benefits. Ironically then, the very issues that brought prohibitionists into power were also bringing them out of it."
Abstract This paper examines the radical anti-Vietnam war, social justice movement, The Weather Underground. The movement is described in terms of its own history and the political climate of the times. The movement's ideology is described, as well as some of their activities. Finally, the paper concludes with the legacy of the movement and where its leaders are today.
From the Paper "Of all the groups that evolved from the SDS, the Weather Underground was the most notorious. This was due to the fact that even early in the history of the organization there were violent clashes with the police and authorities. An infamous example of the organizations penchant for violence protest was the "Four Days of rage". This refers to the violence in Chicago perpetrated by the Weathermen in 1969. Violence during this period included the destruction of property and buildings and attacks on the police. During these four days a total of seventy-three policemen were injured and about three hundred members of the organization arrested - some of them on charges of attempted murder. (George & Wilcox, 1996, p. 135)"
