Summary Of The 1960s Renaissance As A Social Movement

This thesis attempts to fill these gaps, by analysing the 1960s psychedelic movement and its renaissance, from a social movement perspective. Social movement theory provides an academic methodology in which these movements can be linked to the historical, the political and the social. A plethora of literature on social movement frameworks exists, which will be discussed in depth during chapter 1. In short, dominant social movement theory suggests that successful social movements are collective, act outside authority, involve organisation, are continual and challenge or defend existing systems. Some academics, such as Robert Lauer and Morgan Shiply, utilise social movement perspectives to analyse the 1960s LSD-based countercultures. Whilst useful in identifying the social factors that promulgated the initial LSD movement, applied exploration of political and historical factors are limited. Further, the …show more content…
Due to its contemporary nature, and the changed dynamics of social movements since the 1960s, the approach will be slightly different. Newspaper articles, conference papers, podcasts and talks will be assessed in discussing the elements of the contemporary movement. In doing so, two primary questions will be asked. First, could the current psychedelic renaissance be considered a social movement? Second, if so, is it or will it be successful in attaining its aims?

Finally, this paper compares and analyses its earlier findings as set out in Chapter 2 and Chapter 3. Then, text/discourse analysis will be applied to explain and comment on the successes and failures of the movement. In doing so, it will assess the political factors influencing the demise and reprise of psychedelic drug advocacy. Here, the findings set out in earlier chapters will be linked to broader issues relating to the war on drugs – issues of diversity, race, privilege, class and