Networks Of Outrage And Hope: Social Movements In The Internet Age
Communication & Social Movements
It can be argued that communication networks are not only present in all social movements, but, are in fact essential to their formation and emergence. As Manual Castells argues in Networks of Outrage and Hope: Social Movements in the Internet Age, social movements all throughout history could not have been possible without the communication networks formed by individuals who had a common purpose and goal that challenged the norm of society. Social movements, regardless of how different each may be, are always a response to some form of injustice, whether it be cultural, economic, political or social, this injustice incites those being mistreated to stand up against the dominant power in their society and collectively act to try and change it. However, this collective action that challenges …show more content…
Governments and corporations use the various outlets of media to communicate their values and interests in order to influence individuals into accepting their power without resistance. Communication therefore is as essential to power and consent, as it is to dissent and social movements. Castells states, “the way people think determines the fate of the institutions, norms and values on which societies are organized” (p. 5), so once individuals form communication networks where they can exchange information of their shared feelings of discontent and injustice, they will begin to think not of the elite’s interests, but their own interests, and this is when dissent arises and social movements are formed. It is through communication networks that individuals are able to turn their emotion into action, because once they are together they are able to overcome the fear that prevents them from resisting the dominant power in society. “Overcoming fear is the fundamental threshold for individuals to cross in order to engage in a social movement” and once fear is no longer a factor, enthusiasm and hope move a
It can be argued that communication networks are not only present in all social movements, but, are in fact essential to their formation and emergence. As Manual Castells argues in Networks of Outrage and Hope: Social Movements in the Internet Age, social movements all throughout history could not have been possible without the communication networks formed by individuals who had a common purpose and goal that challenged the norm of society. Social movements, regardless of how different each may be, are always a response to some form of injustice, whether it be cultural, economic, political or social, this injustice incites those being mistreated to stand up against the dominant power in their society and collectively act to try and change it. However, this collective action that challenges …show more content…
Governments and corporations use the various outlets of media to communicate their values and interests in order to influence individuals into accepting their power without resistance. Communication therefore is as essential to power and consent, as it is to dissent and social movements. Castells states, “the way people think determines the fate of the institutions, norms and values on which societies are organized” (p. 5), so once individuals form communication networks where they can exchange information of their shared feelings of discontent and injustice, they will begin to think not of the elite’s interests, but their own interests, and this is when dissent arises and social movements are formed. It is through communication networks that individuals are able to turn their emotion into action, because once they are together they are able to overcome the fear that prevents them from resisting the dominant power in society. “Overcoming fear is the fundamental threshold for individuals to cross in order to engage in a social movement” and once fear is no longer a factor, enthusiasm and hope move a