Countermovements

A countermovement is a social movement that is in direct opposition to the ideology of a different social movement. An example would be that of pro-choice versus pro-abortion. Both social movements have protests, hold marches, attract politicians, and solicit funds.

The Occupy Wall Street protests can be considered a social movement. They have taken to the streets and occupied not just a large area in New York, but are also occupying areas in a large number of other cities across the United States. I believe it is safe to say that after 20+ days, this social movement has its legs.

Despite the fact that it was initially funded by leftist-progressive organizations, they have successfully exploited America's rage at the banks and at the politicians. That has created sort of a "big tent" movement that brings such normally opposed groups as socialists, communists, libertarians, and anarchists to march underneath the same banner.

One thing I see lacking, however, is a countermovement. Many of the demonstrating groups are holding up signs and chanting anti-Tea Party rhetoric. Certainly the support of Moveon.org and many other progressive groups who have previously denigrated the Tea Party would seem to peg these protests as a countermovement to the Tea Party.

Yet many of their stated goals are the same. Of course history is full of movements that had one stated goal and another more sinister secret goal. Hitler's Brownshirts and Mao's Red Guard come to mind. However this group appears on its surface to have no legitimate heirarchy. There is no party headquarters, whether offical or unofficial. Many believe that "party headquarters" for this movement actually resides at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, but so far Obama has maintained his distance from the movement. That in itself seems somewhat suspicious as the narcissist-in-chief normally sticks his nose in everything.

So as this OWS movement continues to develop, I'm curious as to where its countermovement lies. Even the angry mobs in the streets of Paris during the French Revolution had their countermovement. The American patriots had their Tories. The Hutu had their Tutsi. While we mock and ridicule much of the goofiness coming from the OWS, snark does not a countermovement make. Especially when you consider that we aim our snark in equal portions across GOP candidates, Obama, the OWS, and the ineffectual Tea Party. Sooner or later someone has to take to the streets and the knives come out.

So while part of me keeps an eye on this movement and another eye towards food stockpiles and ammunition, the historian in me wonders exactly where this movement is paralleled in history. Recent comparisons I've seen to the revolutionaries in 1776 America are laughable. Slightly closer is Mao's student revolution. That turned out pretty bloody for everyone involved and generally could be said to have resulted in a much lower freedom quotient for China's citizens.

Where does this social movement lead? Only time will tell, and time is running short.