SOC 100 Chapter Notes - Chapter 20: Frances Fox Piven
Document Summary
Prevailing perspectives on power cannot explain why political protests from the bottom of societies sometimes result in reforms that reflect the grievances of the protesters. In other words, protesters do not have the given power that cause change, so based on the viewpoint of how power is distributed, how could protesters be successful at all. The theory piven presents that answers this research question is interdependent power . She argues that globalization actually increases the potential for this kind of popular power. Protests have shaped america"s history; whether it was founding of the republic, emancipation of the slaves, or rise of the new deal. There have been far more unsuccessful protests than successful ones. Even with successful ones, sometimes the movement"s demands are changed in order to fit into the existing social institutions. Piven uses the term interdependent power to suggest the sociological basis of disruptive force on protests.
