Rebellious Conservatives Social Movements in Defense of Privilege

Conservative social movements such as the Tea Party are having a huge impact on American politics and social life. Unlike social movements of the past, these conservative protesters are not oppressed minorities but tend to be relatively privileged population groups. So why are they protesting? Rebellious Conservatives examines three conservative movements, the anti-abortion/pro-life movement, the anti-illegal immigration movement, and the Tea Party, to determine why conservatives engage in protest, how they justify such action, and how they seek to reshape America. Drawing upon aspects of social movement and race theory, the author shows how perceived threats to the privileges of these conservatives drive their protest, how these movements have attempted to reshape American identities to protect these privileges, and the potential implications of the success of these movements.

David R. Dietrich is Assistant Professor of Sociology at Texas State University, USA.

1. Understanding Conservative Protest
2. "This is Our Country": Identities of Privilege
3. "Spiraling Downward on a Path to Anarchy": Characterizing Threats to Privilege
4. "Invaders," "Murderers," and "Communists": Agents of Threat
5. 'To Reclaim Our Nation": How Conservative Protesters Want to Change America
6. "The 'Silent Majority' is Silent No More": Summary and Conclusion