In Conversation: An OUP Podcast

Hahrie Han, “How Organizations Develop Activists: Civic Associations and Leadership in the 21st Century” (Oxford UP 2014)

Sep 22, 2014

Hahrie Han, an associate professor of political science at Wellesley College, discusses her insights from her book on activism and civic organizations. She reveals that activism is a learned behavior, emphasizing the role of organizations in transforming members into activist leaders. Han introduces the 'activist ladder,' highlighting different levels of political engagement. She also explores the challenges organizations face in fostering civic engagement and the essential role of education in preparing individuals for active citizenship.

22:00

Episode guests

Hahrie Han

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Episode notes

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Activism involves substantial actions within civic life, highlighting the distinction between surface-level engagement and deeper, sustained participation among individuals.

Organizations play a pivotal role in transforming community members into active leaders, emphasizing the significance of tailored strategies like mobilizing and organizing for effective engagement.

Deep dives

Defining Activism in the 21st Century

The term activism encompasses individuals who actively engage in political activities that directly impact civic life, extending beyond mere opinions or passive involvement. The focus is on those who take substantial actions, such as organizing events or participating in community initiatives, rather than those who simply affiliate or express views. In exploring the intricacies of activism, the discussion highlights the distinction between surface-level engagement and deeper involvement, emphasizing the importance of sustained participation. This approach seeks to understand what motivates certain individuals to consistently engage with political activities, as opposed to those who may only do so once.

Intro

2min

Understanding Activism and Civic Engagement

6min

Understanding the Activist Ladder: Levels of Engagement in Political Organizations

3min

Activism in Organizations: Engagement Strategies

9min

Fostering Civic Engagement: The Role of Education and Organizations

4min

Hahrie Han has written How Organizations Develop Activists: Civic Associations and Leadership in the Twenty-First Century (Oxford UP, 2014). Han is associate professor of political science at Wellesley College. She has previously written Groundbreakers: How Obama’s 2.2 Million Volunteers Transformed Campaigns in America.

Han’s book explores the world of activism, and the role organizations play in mobilizing and organizing people. She makes the provocative argument that organizations vary in whether they simply want to mobilize community members or whether they want to transform them into activist leaders. Only certain organizations devote the resources to the time-consuming process of transformation. What makes Han’s book so interesting is the way it straddles the disciplinary concerns of political science with some practical lessons and advice for organizations. The audience for this book, thus, is wide.

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In Conversation: An OUP Podcast

Hahrie Han, “How Organizations Develop Activists: Civic Associations and Leadership in the 21st Century” (Oxford UP 2014)

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Deep dives

Defining Activism in the 21st Century

Transforming Non-activists into Activists

Mobilizing vs. Organizing: Two Models of Engagement

Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts