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Introducing degrowth to socio-environmental movements in the United States: A case study of the Sunrise Movement and Democratic Socialists of America

Schockling, Amanda LU (2021) In Master Thesis Series in Environmental Studies and Sustainability Science MESM02 20211
LUCSUS (Lund University Centre for Sustainability Studies)
Abstract
In a country with a large historical and current share of emissions, recent climate inaction and political upheaval have disallowed substantial social-environmental reforms from being endorsed. This thesis critically examines the current cycle of contention in the United States by classifying the Sunrise Movement and the Democratic Socialists of America as social movement organizations through the lens of social movement theory with a goal to identify successes and understand how the movement could increase the viability of democratic socialism in America and make governmental climate action inevitable. I describe the movement’s political opportunities beginning with President Obama’s climate policies, mobilizing structures like social... (More)
In a country with a large historical and current share of emissions, recent climate inaction and political upheaval have disallowed substantial social-environmental reforms from being endorsed. This thesis critically examines the current cycle of contention in the United States by classifying the Sunrise Movement and the Democratic Socialists of America as social movement organizations through the lens of social movement theory with a goal to identify successes and understand how the movement could increase the viability of democratic socialism in America and make governmental climate action inevitable. I describe the movement’s political opportunities beginning with President Obama’s climate policies, mobilizing structures like social media, and framing processes which make the climate narrative more effective. Performing a qualitative content analysis on interviews and social media content, I characterize the latest socio-environmental movement and conclude by recommending degrowth policies that could attract more participants and strengthen its claims for climate justice. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Schockling, Amanda LU
supervisor
organization
course
MESM02 20211
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
climate change, social movements, Green New Deal, politics, democratic socialism, framing theory, USA
publication/series
Master Thesis Series in Environmental Studies and Sustainability Science
report number
2021:018
language
English
id
9047862
date added to LUP
2021-06-02 07:48:28
date last changed
2021-06-02 07:48:28
@misc{9047862,
  abstract     = {{In a country with a large historical and current share of emissions, recent climate inaction and political upheaval have disallowed substantial social-environmental reforms from being endorsed. This thesis critically examines the current cycle of contention in the United States by classifying the Sunrise Movement and the Democratic Socialists of America as social movement organizations through the lens of social movement theory with a goal to identify successes and understand how the movement could increase the viability of democratic socialism in America and make governmental climate action inevitable. I describe the movement’s political opportunities beginning with President Obama’s climate policies, mobilizing structures like social media, and framing processes which make the climate narrative more effective. Performing a qualitative content analysis on interviews and social media content, I characterize the latest socio-environmental movement and conclude by recommending degrowth policies that could attract more participants and strengthen its claims for climate justice.}},
  author       = {{Schockling, Amanda}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  series       = {{Master Thesis Series in Environmental Studies and Sustainability Science}},
  title        = {{Introducing degrowth to socio-environmental movements in the United States: A case study of the Sunrise Movement and Democratic Socialists of America}},
  year         = {{2021}},
}