Berkeley in the 60s

i	Sociology 432: Social Movements

Berkeley in the Sixties (LD760.B47)

Part I: Origins: The Free Speech Movement

Only Part 1 will be discussed!

Tactics

Note the effectiveness of the sit-in as a protest tactic. What was its impact on participants? media? opposition? potential allies?

Allies

What allies did the students gain that proved essential for their success?

Opponents

How did the students' opponents provide the opportunity for the movement's success?

Crises

In what ways was FSM a defensive reaction to provocations by more powerful established interests or was it a new attempt by students to push a new agenda?

Recruitment

Note the variety of ways people were recruited to the Berkeley Free Speech Movement: some were already committed activists who came to Berkeley before the FSM because of Berkeley's reputation for political activism; but several were recruited almost accidentally by happening to be in the right place at the right time.

Origins

Note all the connections between the civil rights movement and Berkeley Free Speech Movement (FSM). Consider issues, leadership, rhetoric, music, and most importantly, tactics.

Culture

What evidence is there that the FSM was an early example of a "New Social Movement" with a typically post-modern critique of contemporary society?

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Last updated August 31, 2005

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