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mpatterson610's review against another edition
I wanted to be able to get through this book but the narrators voice is too soothing and it was ultimately too much dense history for me to absorb
jayrbradley's review
4.0
Really satisfied with this one, albeit that it does not have the same blockbuster punch of sorrow that "The Jakarta Method" did.
I think for us (that being the people that I know will read this), the book echoes a lot of the 2020 protests for racial justice, and other protest movements seen in the U.S. since 2015 or so - even if the book doesn't cover it.
The core of the message that Bevins is trying to capture here is:
- In any movement against entrenched economic and political powers, they will be more organized than you, so don't have a kneejerk reaction eschewing representation and organization
- Mass protests and spontaneity create opportunity, but without clear messaging and planning for what comes next directly leads to that space being filled by something that has already prepared for it
The problem is that it *is* deeply euphoric to feel a part of a horizontalist protest. It does feel like you are doing something if you post about it and show up. Unlike in the third world movements that saw these movements be coopted, the first world movements simply went away after winning an election or a meager acknowledgement. Perhaps this is Bevins' point about there being no stronger country to exert influence at play. If you are not organized enough to be scared of, and no outside more powerful group to push an otherwise fading group forward, why do they even have to react outside of culture wars and political bargaining?
Either way, great book and great reflection. My only complaint is maybe a bit more clear on the subheads with the location and dates being discussed.
I think for us (that being the people that I know will read this), the book echoes a lot of the 2020 protests for racial justice, and other protest movements seen in the U.S. since 2015 or so - even if the book doesn't cover it.
The core of the message that Bevins is trying to capture here is:
- In any movement against entrenched economic and political powers, they will be more organized than you, so don't have a kneejerk reaction eschewing representation and organization
- Mass protests and spontaneity create opportunity, but without clear messaging and planning for what comes next directly leads to that space being filled by something that has already prepared for it
The problem is that it *is* deeply euphoric to feel a part of a horizontalist protest. It does feel like you are doing something if you post about it and show up. Unlike in the third world movements that saw these movements be coopted, the first world movements simply went away after winning an election or a meager acknowledgement. Perhaps this is Bevins' point about there being no stronger country to exert influence at play. If you are not organized enough to be scared of, and no outside more powerful group to push an otherwise fading group forward, why do they even have to react outside of culture wars and political bargaining?
Either way, great book and great reflection. My only complaint is maybe a bit more clear on the subheads with the location and dates being discussed.