Collaborative Proposal -- Media and Mobilization: The Case of Radio and Southern Textile Worker Mobilization, 1929-1934

传统的社会运动理论强调政治机会和集体认同对于社会运动的形成以及运动的稳定性、长期性和成功的重要性。最近的工作将这两个方面整合到一个框架中，强调了社会运动文化在同时培养1)群体认同，2)因果关系的另一种解释框架，以及3)潜在运动参与者的政治效能感方面的核心作用。然而，很少有实证关注致力于研究媒体在跨地理空间锻造运动文化方面可能发挥的作用。PIs将研究美国历史上最大规模的劳工动员——1929-1934年南方纺织业罢工运动，超过40万工人离开工作岗位——以及媒体（特别是广播）在促进农村和工厂社区凝聚力的社会运动文化方面发挥的重要作用。事实上，鉴于工会的缺乏参与和工厂城镇在地理上分散的性质，对社会运动理论家和劳工研究人员来说，发生的工人动员仍然是一种反常现象。具体而言，该项目将调查以下内容：1)。即使在控制了其他影响因素的情况下，这个时代的电台成立与罢工事件之间是否存在经验上的对应关系？2）. 当时的传播范围是怎样的在工业城镇中听到的程度是怎样的？谁拥有这些电台，在播放什么方面有自主权吗？工厂工人有收音机吗？3）. 哪些国家、地区和州一级的政治信息被传递，可能会改变工人对政治机会的看法？4)。广播在锻造或至少为对立的文化信息打开机会方面扮演了什么角色？结果是工厂城镇之间的团结和相似性表现出来了吗？该项目将对运动形成、通信技术、文化传播、劳动力动态和空间扩散过程的理论辩论做出重要贡献。分析将嵌入在一个历史背景下，同时强调更广泛的主题和辩论有关媒体，社会运动，劳工和文化的研究和理解。

Collaborative ProposalsSES-0136880 SES-0136837Vincent Roscigno William DanaherOhio State University University of CharlestonTraditional social movement theory has emphasized the importance of political opportunity and collective identity for social movement formation, and for movement stability, longevity, and success. Recent work incorporates aspects of both into a single framework, highlighting the central role of social movement culture in simultaneously fostering 1) group identity, 2) an alternative interpretational frame of cause and effect, and 3) a sense of political efficacy among potential movement participants. Little empirical attention, however, has been devoted to examining the role media may play in forging movement culture across geographic space. The PIs will examine the largest labor mobilization in U.S. history --the southern textile strike campaigns of 1929-1934, where upwards of 400,000 workers walked off their jobs --and the extent to which media (and radio specifically) played a vital role in fostering a cohesive social movement culture across rural, mill communities. Indeed, the worker mobilization that occurred remains an anomaly to social movement theorists and labor researchers, given the lack of union involvement and the geographically disbursed nature of mill towns during the time period in question. Specifically, the project will investigate following: 1). Was there an empirical correspondence between radio station foundings during the era in question and strike events, even controlling for other influential factors? 2). What were transmission ranges at the time and to what extent were they heard in and across mill towns? Who owned these stations, and was there autonomy in terms of what could be broadcast? And, did mill workers have radios? 3). What national, regional, and state-level political information was transmitted that may have had the consequence of altering worker perceptions of political opportunity? 4). What was the role of radio in forging, or at least opening opportunity to, oppositional cultural messages. Were solidarity and a sense of similarity across mill towns manifested as a consequence? The project will make important contributions to theoretical debates regarding movement formation, communication technology, cultural transmission, labor dynamics, and spatial diffusion processes most generally. The analyses will be embedded in a historical context, while simultaneously highlighting broader themes and debates pertaining to the study and understanding of media, social movements, labor, and culture.