Graduation Date
2005
Document Type
Thesis
Program
Master of Arts degree with a major in Sociology
Committee Chair Name
Dr. Judith Little
Committee Chair Affiliation
Cal Poly Humboldt Faculty or Staff
Second Committee Member Name
Dr. Mary Virnoche
Third Committee Member Name
Dr. Donna Schafer
Keywords
Sociology
Abstract
In order to create change, it is imperative that grassroots movements and organizations adopt effective mobilization strategies. This thesis will provide a model for how Democracy Unlimited of Humboldt County (DUHC) mobilizes citizens to action in a rural community. It will be argued that many of the mobilization strategies employed by DUHC can be applied by other grassroots organization across a variety of issues. Although DUHC is focused on undermining corporate power and the legitimacy of corporate personhood, their mobilization strategies can be a useful tool for very different types of organizations. Part of the DUHC mobilization model will include discussion on a survey that I helped DUHC create and administer. The survey, which illuminated how Humboldt County citizens felt about the role of corporations, will be used to frame a future ballot initiative. The ballot initiative will aim to stop corporations from contributing to the electoral process in Humboldt County. I will describe how a survey can be a tool to elicit dialogue between a grassroots organization and the community and discuss how this survey links with DUHC’s mobilization efforts.
Recommended Citation
Chevraux-FitzHugh, Adrian, "Discovering Democracy: Grassroots Organizations and Strategies of Mobilation" (2005). Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects. 2470.
https://digitalcommons.humboldt.edu/etd/2470