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Metadata of Note
Type:🍃 Leaf [Nomenclature present here.]
Source (Video): Why do some movements succeed, while others fail?
Tags: #socialissues #Ukraine #History
Date: February 14th, 2022
Greg Satell’s take on the success of some movements
In this video, [[Greg Satell]] talks about why some movements, like the Orange Revolution in #Ukraine that took place in #2004 succeeded in making the authorities recount the votes of the election which changed the result, whereas some movements such as the “Occupy Wall Street” did little beyond an initial surge to make a lasting impact.
- Orange Revolution: The protests were prompted by reports from several domestic and foreign election monitors as well as the widespread public perception that the results of the run-off vote of 21 November 2004 between leading candidates Viktor Yushchenko and Viktor Yanukovych were rigged by the authorities in favour of the latter. The nationwide protests succeeded when the results of the original run-off were annulled, and a revote was ordered by Ukraine’s Supreme Court for 26 December 2004. Under intense scrutiny by domestic and international observers, the second run-off was declared to be “free and fair”. The final results showed a clear victory for Yushchenko, who received about 52% of the vote, compared to Yanukovych’s 45%. Yushchenko was declared the official winner and with his inauguration on 23 January 2005 in Kyiv, the Orange Revolution ended.
- Occupy Wall Street (OWS) was a protest movement against economic inequality and the influence of money in politics that began in Zuccotti Park, located in New York City’s Wall Street financial district, in September 2011. It gave rise to the wider Occupy movement in the United States and other countries.
- A number of criticisms of Occupy Wall Street have emerged, both during the movement’s most active period and subsequently after. These criticism include a lack of clear goals, false claims as to the 99%, a lack of measurable change, trouble conveying its message, a failure to continue its support base, pursuing the wrong audience, and accusations of anti-Semitism.
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- Although the movement’s primary slogan was “we are the 99%,” it was criticized for not encompassing the voice of the entire 99%, specifically lower-class individuals and minorities.
- The Occupy Movement has been criticized for not having a set of clear demands that could be used to prompt formal policy change. This lack of agenda has been cited as the reason why the Occupy Movement fizzled before achieving any specific legislative changes. Although the lack of demands has simultaneously been argued as one of the advantages of the movement the protesters in Occupy rejected the idea of having only one demand, or a set of demands, and instead represented a host of broad demands that did not specifically allude to the desired policy agenda
Three ingredients for a successful movement
- First, small groups, are loosely connected but united by a shared purpose.
- This cascading between the groups is an opportunity, but also a danger, because this passionate cohesion might make it hard to relate to people outside the movement.
- Second, a movement needs planning, organization and discipline. You need to bring those on the other side over to you. To inspire them to come towards you.
- Ideas tend to start in a small group of innovators -> a larger group of early adopters -> early majority -> late majority -> laggards. Sadly, all too often movements get stuck in the early adopter’s stage. The early adopters need to REALLY work hard to bring into the mainstream.
- Third, successful movements inspire. They bring people in. Power will not fall simply because you oppose it. But it will crumble if you bring those who support it over to your side.
