Is the revolution really going global?

From In These Times:
What might such coordinated actions this month accomplish, then, beyond forging symbolic links between movements? Certainly, protesters in different corners of the world have expressed solidarity for each others' movements-a now well-known sign coming out of Tahrir Square last February read, "Egypt Supports Wisconsin"-and in some cases actually sent emissaries to help share skills and experiences. But is it too hasty to call this a "global movement?" This was the subject of a recent discussion between four leading social movement scholars on the Society Pages blog. Francessca Polletta, professor of sociology at University of California, Irvine, noted that while "activists communicate with each other; they learn from each other; they are emboldened by one another," they don't necessarily yet share common goals-and are still largely targeting national actors. Of course, there's another reason to throw around a term like "global uprising:" It's powerful rhetoric. As James Jasper of the City University of New York argued.

For the full story, please visit http://inthesetimes.com/uprising/entry/13201/is_the_revolution_really_go....