Jae Hyeok ShinKorea University

August 1, 2013

Social Change, Advocacy Groups, and Cross Border Network of Civil Society in Pacific Asia

ExamplesSocial Changes in Pacific Asia

ExamplesSocial Changes in Pacific Asia

ExamplesSocial Changes in Pacific Asia

ExamplesSocial Changes in Pacific Asia

ExamplesSocial Changes in Pacific Asia

ExamplesSocial Changes in Pacific Asia

ExamplesSocial Changes in Pacific Asia

ExamplesSocial Changes in Pacific Asia

Communist revolutions

Vietnam in 1945

North Korea in 1946

China in 1949

Transitions to democracy (democratization)

Thailand in 1975, 1979, 1992, 2007

The Philippines in 1986

South Korea in 1987

Taiwan in 1992

Indonesia 1998

ExamplesSocial Changes in Pacific Asia

1. What led to those social changes?

2. What role did advocacy groups play in bringing about such changes?

3. Why do advocacy groups often build networks across borders?

QuestionsSocial Changes in Pacific Asia

The Causes of Social ChangeStatus Quo: No Social Change

People often have grievances against the government.

Ex) Human rights violations, discrimination, poverty, corruption, pollution, …

But most people do nothing even when they have such grievances.

No social change

Why?

The Causes of Social ChangeStatus Quo: No Social Change

Collective action or free-rider problem

When all other people stay home,

if only I revolt, no change and I will pay the price.

if I also stay home, no change and I will pay nothing.

When all other people revolt,

if I also revolt, social change and I will pay the cost.

if I stay home, social change and I will pay nothing.

It is always better for me to stay home no matter what other people choose to do.

Everyone should have the same incentive. No revolt No social change

The Causes of Social ChangePuzzle

All of a sudden so many people protest on the street and bring about social change.

Why?

The Causes of Social ChangeSocial Change or Tipping Model

There are 10 people who are deciding whether to join revolt or not. Two people have a threshold of 1. Two people have a threshold of 3. Two people have a threshold of 5. Four people have a threshold of 7.

1, 1, 3, 3, 5, 5, 7, 7, 7, 7

The Causes of Social ChangeSocial Change or Tipping Model

There are 10 people who are deciding whether to join revolt or not. Two people have a threshold of 1. Two people have a threshold of 3. Two people have a threshold of 5. Four people have a threshold of 7.

1, 1, 3, 3, 5, 5, 7, 7, 7, 7

no revolt

no change

The Causes of Social ChangeSocial Change or Tipping Model

Now economy is bad, which lowered everyone’s threshold by 1. Two people have a threshold of 0. Two people have a threshold of 2. Two people have a threshold of 4. Four people have a threshold of 6.

0, 0, 2, 2, 4, 4, 6, 6, 6, 6

The Causes of Social ChangeSocial Change or Tipping Model

Now economy is bad, which lowered everyone’s threshold by 1. Two people have a threshold of 0. Two people have a threshold of 2. Two people have a threshold of 4. Four people have a threshold of 6.

0, 0, 2, 2, 4, 4, 6, 6, 6, 6

R, R, 2, 2, 4, 4, 6, 6, 6, 6

The Causes of Social ChangeSocial Change or Tipping Model

Now economy is bad, which lowered everyone’s threshold by 1. Two people have a threshold of 0. Two people have a threshold of 2. Two people have a threshold of 4. Four people have a threshold of 6.

0, 0, 2, 2, 4, 4, 6, 6, 6, 6

R, R, 2, 2, 4, 4, 6, 6, 6, 6

R, R, R, R, 4, 4, 6, 6, 6, 6

The Causes of Social ChangeSocial Change or Tipping Model

Now economy is bad, which lowered everyone’s threshold by 1. Two people have a threshold of 0. Two people have a threshold of 2. Two people have a threshold of 4. Four people have a threshold of 6.

0, 0, 2, 2, 4, 4, 6, 6, 6, 6

R, R, 2, 2, 4, 4, 6, 6, 6, 6

R, R, R, R, 4, 4, 6, 6, 6, 6

R, R, R, R, R, R, 6, 6, 6, 6

The Causes of Social ChangeSocial Change or Tipping Model

Now economy is bad, which lowered everyone’s threshold by 1. Two people have a threshold of 0. Two people have a threshold of 2. Two people have a threshold of 4. Four people have a threshold of 6.

0, 0, 2, 2, 4, 4, 6, 6, 6, 6

R, R, 2, 2, 4, 4, 6, 6, 6, 6

R, R, R, R, 4, 4, 6, 6, 6, 6

R, R, R, R, R, R, 6, 6, 6, 6

R, R, R, R, R, R, R, R, R, R

The Causes of Social ChangeSocial Change or Tipping Model

Now economy is bad, which lowered everyone’s threshold by 1. Two people have a threshold of 0. Two people have a threshold of 2. Two people have a threshold of 4. Four people have a threshold of 6.

0, 0, 2, 2, 4, 4, 6, 6, 6, 6

R, R, 2, 2, 4, 4, 6, 6, 6, 6

R, R, R, R, 4, 4, 6, 6, 6, 6

R, R, R, R, R, R, 6, 6, 6, 6

R, R, R, R, R, R, R, R, R, R

As grievances increase, the likelihood of revolt/change rises.

Communist revolutions

Vietnam in 1945

North Korea in 1946

China in 1949

Transitions to democracy (democratization)

Thailand in 1975, 1979, 1992, 2007

The Philippines in 1986

South Korea in 1987

Taiwan in 1992

Indonesia 1998

The Causes of Social ChangeSocial Change or Tipping Model

Communist revolutions

Vietnam in 1945

North Korea in 1946 poverty, colonialism, …

China in 1949

Transitions to democracy (democratization)

Thailand in 1975, 1979, 1992, 2007

The Philippines in 1986 human rights violations,

South Korea in 1987 corruption,

Taiwan in 1992 bad economy, …

Indonesia 1998

The Causes of Social ChangeSocial Change or Tipping Model

The Causes of Social ChangeSocial Change or Tipping Model

Now economy is bad, which lowered everyone’s threshold by 1. Two people have a threshold of 0. Two people have a threshold of 2. Two people have a threshold of 4. Four people have a threshold of 6.

0, 0, 2, 2, 4, 4, 6, 6, 6, 6

R, R, 2, 2, 4, 4, 6, 6, 6, 6

R, R, R, R, 4, 4, 6, 6, 6, 6

R, R, R, R, R, R, 6, 6, 6, 6

R, R, R, R, R, R, R, R, R, R

Who has a lower threshold?

The Role of Advocacy GroupsSocial Network Theory

Advocacy groups provide people with social networks.

Social networks also lower the threshold.

Grievances “push” + Social networks “pull” revolt

(Scacco, Alexandra. 2008. “Who Riots? Explaining Individual Participation in Ethnic Violence.” Columbia University unpublished paper)

The Role of Advocacy GroupsSocial Network Theory

Christian-Muslim riots in Nigeria (Scacco 2008)

The Role of Advocacy GroupsSolution to Collective Action Problem

With no advocacy groups,

When all other people revolt,

if I also revolt, social change and I will pay the cost.

if I stay home, social change and I will pay nothing.

It is better for me to stay home even when other people choose to revolt.

Everyone should have the same incentive. No revolt No social change

The Role of Advocacy GroupsSolution to Collective Action Problem

With advocacy groups that provide rewords and penalties,

When all other people revolt,

if I also revolt, social change and I will receive reward.

if I stay home, social change and I will pay penalty.

It is better for me to revolt when other people choose to revolt.

Everyone should have the same incentive. Revolt Social change

The Role of Advocacy GroupsSummary

Advocacy groups provide social networks that lower the threshold to participate in social movement.

Advocacy groups give rewards to participants and punish free riders, which helps solve the collective action problem.

The Role of Advocacy GroupsPacific Asia

Communist revolutions

Vietnam in 1945

North Korea in 1946

China in 1949

Transitions to democracy (democratization)

Thailand 1975, 1979, 1992, 2007

The Philippines in 1986  

South Korea in 1987

Taiwan in 1992

Indonesia 1998

The Role of Advocacy GroupsSocial Network Theory

Communist revolutions Communist parties and organizations

Vietnam in 1945 Viet Minh

North Korea in 1946 Workers’ Party of Korea

China in 1949 Chinese Communist Party

Democratization Student activist groups and opposition parties

Thailand National Student Center of Thailand (1973)

The Philippines in 1986 United Nationalist Democratic Organization 

South Korea in 1987 Guk-bon

Taiwan in 1992 Student groups from National Taiwan University

Indonesia 1998 College student groups

Cross Border Network of Advocacy GroupsPuzzle

Advocacy groups provide social networks that lower the threshold to participate in social movement.

Advocacy groups give rewards to participants and punish free riders, which helps solve the collective action problem.

Domestic advocacy groups may be sufficient to bring about social change within countries.

Why do they bother to build cross border networks?

Cross Border Network of Advocacy GroupsSocial Change or Tipping Model

There are 10 people who are deciding whether to join revolt or not. Two people have a threshold of 0. Two people have a threshold of 5. Two people have a threshold of 7. Four people have a threshold of 9.

0, 0, 5, 5, 7, 7, 9, 9, 9, 9

Cross Border Network of Advocacy GroupsSocial Change or Tipping Model

There are 10 people who are deciding whether to join revolt or not. Two people have a threshold of 0. Two people have a threshold of 5. Two people have a threshold of 7. Four people have a threshold of 9.

R, R, 5, 5, 7, 7, 9, 9, 9, 9

no social change

Cross Border Network of Advocacy GroupsSocial Change or Tipping Model

A cross border network increases the number of participants. Now five people revolt. Two people have a threshold of 5. Two people have a threshold of 7. Four people have a threshold of 9.

R, R, R, R, R, 5, 5, 7, 7, 9, 9, 9, 9

Cross Border Network of Advocacy GroupsSocial Change or Tipping Model

A cross border network increases the number of participants. Now five people revolt. Two people have a threshold of 5. Two people have a threshold of 7. Four people have a threshold of 9.

R, R, R, R, R, 5, 5, 7, 7, 9, 9, 9, 9

R, R, R, R, R, R, R, 7, 7, 9, 9, 9, 9

Cross Border Network of Advocacy GroupsSocial Change or Tipping Model

A cross border network increases the number of participants. Now five people revolt. Two people have a threshold of 5. Two people have a threshold of 7. Four people have a threshold of 9.

R, R, R, R, R, 5, 5, 7, 7, 9, 9, 9, 9

R, R, R, R, R, R, R, R, R, 9, 9, 9, 9

Cross Border Network of Advocacy GroupsSocial Change or Tipping Model

A cross border network increases the number of participants. Now five people revolt. Two people have a threshold of 5. Two people have a threshold of 7. Four people have a threshold of 9.

R, R, R, R, R, 5, 5, 7, 7, 9, 9, 9, 9

R, R, R, R, R, R, R, R, R, 9, 9, 9, 9

R, R, R, R, R, R, R, R, R, R, R, R, R

Cross Border Network of Advocacy GroupsSocial Change or Tipping Model

A cross border network increases the number of participants. Now five people revolt. Two people have a threshold of 5. Two people have a threshold of 7. Four people have a threshold of 9.

R, R, R, R, R, 5, 5, 7, 7, 9, 9, 9, 9

R, R, R, R, R, R, R, R, R, 9, 9, 9, 9

R, R, R, R, R, R, R, R, R, R, R, R, R

Cross border network of advocacy groups increases the number of participants, and thus raises the likelihood of revolt.

Cross Border Network of Advocacy GroupsExpectation

Advocacy groups are likely to build cross border networks for repressive states.

Cross Border Network of Advocacy GroupsExamples

Advocacy groups are likely to build cross border networks for repressive states.

Free Tibet

Burma Partnership

International Coalition to Stop Crimes against Humanity in North Korea (ICNK)

.

.

Cross Border Network of Advocacy GroupsExamples

Burma PartnershipBurmese Alliance Organizations: 

Forum for Democracy in Burma (FDB)Nationalities Youth Forum (NYF)Students and Youth Congress of Burma (SYCB)

Regional Solidarity Networks:Alternative ASEAN Network on Burma (Altsean-Burma)Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (Forum-

Asia)Asia Pacific Solidarity Coalition (APSOC)

National Solidarity Coalitions:Solidaritas Indonesia untuk Burma (Indonesian Solidarity

for Burma) (SIB)Free Burma Coalition-Philippines (FBC-Philippines)Burma Campaign Korea (BCK)Hong Kong Coalition for a Free Burma (HKCFB)People’s Forum on Burma (PFB) (Japan)

Cross Border Network of Advocacy GroupsExamples

International Coalition to Stop Crimes against Humanity in North Korea (ICNK)

Advocates International Global Council Aegis TrustALTSEAN-BURMA Amnesty International Japan Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances Asian Human Rights & Humanity Association of Japan  Association for the Rescue of North Korea Abductees,

Chiangmai Burma Partnership BurmaInfo, Japan Christian Lawyer's Association for Paraguay (AACP) Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) Committee for Human Rights in North Korea CONECTAS (Brazil) ..

Social Change, Advocacy Groups, and Cross Border Network of Civil Society in Pacific Asia

Conclusions

Advocacy groups contribute to social change in two ways:

by providing social networks as “pull” factor,

by helping solve the collective action (free-rider) problem. They played a large role in social change in Pacific Asia,

such as communist revolutions and transitions to democracy.

Cross border networks of advocacy groups increase the number of participants in social movement, which increases the likelihood of social change.

Advocacy groups actively build cross border networks for repressive states in Pacific Asia, such as Burma and North Korea.

Social Change, Advocacy Groups, and Cross Border Network of Civil Society in Pacific Asia

Discussion Questions

1. Why did political parties play a larger role in communist revolutions, while advocacy groups often played a larger role in transitions to democracy?

2. The active cross border network of advocacy groups seems to contribute to the recent political liberalization of Myanmar (Burma). Why doesn’t it work for other authoritarian regimes in Pacific Asia, such as China and North Korea?