Assignment 1: Three Critical Persepctives

Mass Society Theory

The theory of mass society can provide some insights into the interconnectedness of movement members and the greater society. The theory suggests members organize out necessity, having perceived traditional channels of organization as inadequate to spur reform. However, undocumented students have tended to resist alienation from many traditional sources, finding expression for their grievances in existing political organizations — primarily the Democratic Party — and community support groups such as churches or schools.

On the other hand, their undocumented status does foster alienation, particularly in their disenfranchisement and perceived illegitimacy. Accordingly, students have formed both local (Arizona Dream Act Coalition) and national movements (Dreamactivist.org) to provide members with additional support and means organization.

Rational: Resource Mobilization and Political Process Theory

Resource mobilization theory focuses on the resources available to a movement to explain the expansion and contraction of that movement. The recent surge in the undocumented student movement can be attributed to an increase in participants, particularly affected students just coming of age. The National Immigration Law Center estimates that 65,000 undocumented students graduate from high school yearly. Many undocumented minors grow up with minimal understanding of their status and the implications it holds for their lives. As these students come to realize their situation, the need to find relief causes them to gravitate to existing organizations or form local chapters of their own.

By the same token, undocumented students face considerable challenges as reform efforts such as the DREAM Act continue to stall in Congress. Currently, students attempting to continue schooling as they wait for reform rely on private scholarships and funding — their status cuts them off from financial aid and in-state tuition in many states. Supporters’ fatigue makes funding these scholarships difficult as the movement continues.

Political process theory can also help to explain the movement’s current expansion. Largely independent of the movement’s efforts, immigration has become a preeminent issue in the United States — particularly in border states. Combined with a surge in democratic lawmakers at the federal level, this shift in focus has raised hopes for the movement’s participants, spurring increased efforts and recruitment.

The Cultural and Emotional Perspective

From a cultural and emotional perspective, undocumented students face the greatest challenge not in defining goals but in conceptualizing and branding those goals.

The undocumented students movement knows what it wants: the chance to earn legitimacy, job opportunity, and educational equality in the United States. However, public perception of these goals varies greatly, with many critics rejecting what they perceive as “amnesty for illegals.” To combat this reaction, the movement strives to cultivate the image of industrious and intelligent immigrants — an asset to the country worthy of granting a path to citizenship. The movement highlights the academic achievements of undocumented students, particularly in the face of adverse conditions. This branding, however, faces heavy opposition from competing, negative stereotypes of immigrants.

Conclusion

Of these perspectives, I believe resource mobilization theory most aptly describes the current movement's expansion and structure. Organizations like Dream Activist have formed the basis for a nationwide movement, recruiting followers who establish local chapters. The increase in issue awareness and affected individuals over the past decade illustrates a clear gathering of resources, allowing the movement to grow from a fringe movement to its current size.