ACX
Contra DeBoer On Movement Shell Games
Scott Alexander defends effective altruism against Freddie deBoer's criticism, arguing for its distinctiveness, practical value, and positive marginal effects.
20 min read 3,071 words
A thread through the archive
social movements
Essays tagged “social movements”. Follow an idea across the archive.
Essays on social movements
6 essaysACX
Highlights From The Comments On Subcultures
Scott Alexander discusses reader comments on his cyclic theory of subcultures, addressing critiques and expanding on the model's applications and limitations.
31 min read 4,672 words
ACX
The Rise And Fall Of Online Culture Wars
Scott Alexander examines the evolution of online culture wars from atheism to feminism to race, analyzing the dynamics of these shifts and speculating on future trends.
65 min read 10,054 words
SSC
Respectability Cascades
Scott Alexander compares two contrasting models of how social movements gain or lose respectability, using examples from gay rights and environmental issues to explore their implications.
11 min read 1,551 words
SSC
A Paradox of Ecclesiology
Scott Alexander examines ecclesiology in non-religious movements, using the Catholic Church as a model of organizational success, and questions why other causes don't adopt similar structures.
19 min read 2,942 words
SSC
Living By The Sword
Scott Alexander examines two cases of online mob justice in feminist circles to argue that movements abandoning civility ultimately self-destruct.
31 min read 4,691 words