Manufacturing Community in an Online Activist Organization

Eaton, Marc A.

doi:10.1080/13691180902890125

Cited by 30 publications

(22 citation statements)

References 34 publications

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“…While a growing number of studies have attempted to test such claims empirically, Segerberg and Bennett (2011, p. 199) argue that there is still a need to move beyond "anecdotal evidence and sweeping generality." With few exceptions (such as Bennett & Segerberg, 2012Earl & Kimport, 2011), where more detailed empirical research has been conducted, the tendency has been to focus on groups such as Move On (Eaton, 2010;Karpf, 2012) or Avaaz (Kavada, 2012), specific events such as a protest (Polletta, 2002;Segerberg & Bennett, 2011) or major social forums (Kavada, 2009). The decision to analyze all of the petitions submitted to Downing Street helps to overcome Downloaded by [University of Alabama at Tuscaloosa] at 01:32 30 March 2015 these limitations.…”

Section: Rethinking Collective Actionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Populism and Downing Street E-petitions: Connective Action, Hybridity, and the Changing Nature of Organizing

Wright¹

2015

Political Communication

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This article explores ongoing debates about whether new media empowers individuals at the expense of formal organizations, and how the nature of organizations/organizing is changing. Focusing on Downing Street E-petitions, it presents a content analysis of over 33,000 accepted petitions, analyzing who or what 'sponsored' each petition alongside interviews with petition creators. The analysis finds a wide range of 'affiliations', from formal groups to personal information, though many formal groups chose not to use the platform. In apparent support of the populist position, and contradicting resource mobilization theories, individuals created 19 of the 20 most signed petitions. Bennett and Segerberg's (2013) theory of connective action, and Chadwick's theories of organizational hybridity (2007) and the hybrid media system (2013) inform a detailed qualitative analysis of how petitions were promoted, and the nature of organization that underpinned this. The analysis finds that organizational structure(s) underpinning successful individual petitions were complex, with extensive organizational hybridity and petitioners exploiting hybrid media logics. Connective action was also apparent, though this did not fit as easily with practice on Downing Street E-petitions.

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Section: Rethinking Collective Actionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Populism and Downing Street E-petitions: Connective Action, Hybridity, and the Changing Nature of Organizing

Wright¹

2015

Political Communication

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“…These emails and public pronouncements by the organizations reveal their distinctive approach to creating a political story for member mobilization. In his study of MoveOn, Eaton () investigated how language was used to develop a sense of community among members. He found that the organization primarily defined its own identity by vilifying its opponents, using its “progressive” ideological label to help identify its own constituency.…”

Section: The Emergence Of Online Political Campaigning Organizationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Online Campaigning Organizations and Storytelling Strategies: GetUp! in Australia

Vromen¹,

Coleman²

2013

Policy & Internet

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There has been an international growth in online campaigning organizations that engage in public policy debate and mobilize citizens. This paper analyzes how political action undertaken by these organizations promotes an innovative approach to storytelling and discursive politics. The main question addressed here is: how do storytelling tactics underpin the multi-issue oriented, online strategies of campaigning organizations? GetUp! is an Australian online political campaigning organization with over 600,000 members, that has conducted high-profile public policy campaigns on issues as diverse as mental health, electoral law, same-sex marriage, and climate change. This qualitative case study demonstrates how GetUp!'s communications strategy tries to use storytelling to reorient political debate-and the nature of politics itself-in an affective way. The construction of online campaign stories underpins their political tactics. Stories are used to help citizens, and to a lesser extent, decision makers, identify with an issue, build community, and act in recognition of the moral urgency for political change.

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“…All of them demonstrate a strong commitment to education through participation, but a relatively weak commitment to participation in goals, voice and control over resources (Prainsack 2011;Prainsack 2013;Raddick et al 2010;Wiggins and Crowston 2011). Finally, in the lower right, cases such as Moveon.org and Indymedia (both devoted to advancing progressive causes through participants' direct involvement) emphasize a strong sense of classical political autonomy through a commitment to journalistic critique and classical movementbased organization, but with perhaps less of a concern for the collective coherence, experience and affect of those actions (Earl and Kimport 2011;Karpf 2012;Kreiss 2012;Eaton 2010).…”

Section: Political Autonomy Vs Educative Dividendmentioning

confidence: 99%