What is a “Grassroots Movement”?

[PTK]

We often hear an organisation being described as a “grassroots movement”.

What is a grassroots movement?

Are there movements that are not “grassroots”?

 

[Boris Sprinkler]

My bowel movements

 

[WouldBe]

What is a grassroots movement?

Teeny tiny earthquake.

 

[Larry O'Hara]

We often hear an organisation being described as a “grassroots movement”.

What is a grassroots movement?

Are there movements that are not “grassroots”?

one you agree with?

 

[planetgeli]

We often hear an organisation being described as a “grassroots movement”.

What is a grassroots movement?

One that works from the bottom up, hence the name.

Are there movements that are not “grassroots”?

Tons.

 

[PTK]

One that works from the bottom up, hence the name.



Tons.

Is Momentum a grassroots movement?
Is Stand Up to Racism a grassroots movement?

 

[stavros]

The Flymo fan club?

 

[PTK]

one you agree with?

I saw an historian claiming that the Anti-Nazi League was a grassroots movement, but I dispute that. I think that ANL was founded by a certain central committee. It was not based on existing campaigns against racism and fascism, such as those that organised the anti-fascist protests in Wood Green and Lewisham.

 

[Larry O'Hara]

I saw an historian claiming that the Anti-Nazi League was a grassroots movement, but I dispute that. I think that ANL was founded by a certain central committee. It was not based on existing campaigns against racism and fascism, such as those that organised the anti-fascist protests in Wood Green and Lewisham.

Yes it was very top down no democratic structure at all: in all its incarnations. Just like current SWP fronts LMHR-SUTR and of course Hope Not Hate
The. Only anti-fascist group with a democratic structure in any sense was AFA

 

[Larry O'Hara]

Is Momentum a grassroots movement?
Is Stand Up to Racism a grassroots movement?

For the second no: at least Momentum has some vestiges

 

[steeplejack]

For me a grassroots movement is based on community or workplace struggles and is not one that is a wholly owned subsidiary / crude front organisation of a political party

 

[hitmouse]

If we're talking about Momentum in the present tense then I don't think Momentum in 2024 is very much of anything at all. Probably a different conversation to be had about what Momentum was in 2015 or 2016 or so, though.

 

[The39thStep]

I saw an historian claiming that the Anti-Nazi League was a grassroots movement, but I dispute that. I think that ANL was founded by a certain central committee. It was not based on existing campaigns against racism and fascism, such as those that organised the anti-fascist protests in Wood Green and Lewisham.

I think it would be fair to say that some of its local, activity was often initiated at grassroots level

 

[_Russ_]

Worms

 

[RD2003]

I think it would be fair to say that some of its local, activity was often initiated at grassroots level

It definitely had a spontaneous element. Me and several schoolmates went along to the demos, and eventually to the occasional meeting, aged 14-15, and we'd only vaguely heard of the SWP. We were more inspired by the more political punk elements, and a simple wish not to see our black and Asian mates picked on just for being who they were.

 

[hitmouse]

Yeah, I think with any of these things it's easy to have clear categories in your head but real-life movements rarely fit into these kinds of clear-cut binaries, cos any movement that has any activity at all will likely rely on some kind of grassroots enthusiasm.

Think it's probably fair to say Enough is Enough isn't a great example though.