Community struggles and the shaping of democratic consciousness

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36 Scopus citations

Abstract

Grass-roots protest activities against economic growth have often been viewed as particularistic, random, self-interested actions that have little significant impact on the larger political economy or movements for social change. This article, however, provides an alternative framework for understanding these community conflicts by examining the structural contradictions of political life that frame such conflicts and by showing, through a case study of a toxic waste protest, the ways in which these structural contradictions are subjectively experienced in the process of political protest. This integrated analysis thus shows how ordinary citizens may develop a more active, participatory concept of democracy.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)227-239
Number of pages13
JournalSociological Forum
Volume4
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 1989

Keywords

  • community struggles
  • consciousness and agency
  • participatory democracy
  • politicization
  • structural contradictions

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