How the media has handled the protests and the lessons of the 2010s with Vincent Bevins
May 8, 2024
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Journalist and author Vincent Bevins discusses the lessons of mass protests in the 2010s, the allure of leaderless movements, and media coverage of campus protests. The podcast delves into historical analysis, the impact of Seattle protests, and the media's role in shaping protest narratives.
Leaderless protests gained prominence in 2010s due to decentralized organizing.
Media challenges in accurately representing protests and avoiding biases.
Police repression can either fuel or hinder protest movements.
Deep dives
Analysis of formless movements and the decline of charismatic leadership
The podcast episode delves into the shift from formless movements to the decline of charismatic leadership within the context of protests. It outlines the historical origins and ideological reasons that contributed to the dominance of leaderless movements in the 2010s, emphasizing the rise of spontaneously coordinated mass protests in public spaces. The analysis explores the material and ideological factors that facilitated the emergence of leaderless movements, reflecting on the alter-globalization movement's influence and the societal shift towards decentralized, horizontally organized actions.
Significance of Seattle 1999 protest and its impact on future movements
The podcast episode highlights the significance of the Seattle 1999 protest as a pivotal moment that inspired a new style of resistance within protest movements. Drawing parallels between Seattle 1999 and subsequent protests like Occupy Wall Street, the discussion underscores how the decentralized nature of the alter-globalization movement in Seattle influenced the future direction of protest movements. Examples of environmental organizations and diverse groups coming together in a leaderless, digitally coordinated manner reflect a shift towards challenging neoliberal global capitalist structures.
Media manipulation challenges and collective action in current protests
The podcast episode addresses the challenges of media manipulation and representation within current protests, examining how protesters navigate media biases and misrepresentations. It underscores the vulnerabilities of unstructured movements to media distortions while emphasizing the importance of intentional collective action among protesters for effectively communicating their message. Despite media scrutiny, the episode emphasizes the necessity for accurate reporting and coherent storytelling based on factual representations to counter misrepresentations and uphold the integrity of protest movements.
Protests and Repression's Impact on Activism
The delicate balance between repression and activism is examined in the podcast, emphasizing how reactions from authorities can either fuel or hinder protest movements. The example of Columbia calling in the NYPD served to galvanize protests nationally, showcasing how repression can sometimes backfire by garnering sympathy and support for movements despite media and institutional pressures.
The Significance of Protest Experiences
The podcast delves into the transformative and euphoric nature of participating in protests, highlighting the profound impact such experiences can have on individuals. The essence of collective action and the spiritual dimension of protest movements are explored, emphasizing how these moments, while emotionally overwhelming, serve as pivotal touchstones in people's lives and contribute to larger societal changes.
This week we are happy to present one of our most requested guests, Vincent Bevins. He is a longtime foreign correspondent and the author of two books, The Jakarta Method and If We Burn. We talked about the lessons of the mass protests of the 2010s around the world, the allure and some of the downsides to leaderless/horizontal protest movements, and about how the media has covered the campus protests around the country. This is a good one so please enjoy!
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