Tractorcade: Investigating the Relationship Between Group Theory and the American Agriculture Movement's Attempt at Policy Change

Author

Hanna M. Metzler, University of MississippiFollow

Date of Award

Spring 4-13-2021

Document Type

Undergraduate Thesis

Department

Public Policy Leadership

First Advisor

Joseph Holland

Second Advisor

Jonathan Winburn

Third Advisor

John Samonds

Relational Format

Dissertation/Thesis

Abstract

This thesis aims to investigate the relationship between The American Agriculture Movement (AAM) and group theory, with a focus on AAM’s usage of Tractorcade as a tool to promote policy change. Gathering data through a myriad of sources - including existing literature, oral histories, newspaper articles, documents, and journal entires - this thesis analyzes AAM’s Tractorcade demonstration as a social movement aimed at influencing policy change. Utilizing Charles Tilly’s worthiness, unity, numbers, and commitment (WUNC) social movement framework, we find that although AAM employed strong unity and numbers, they failed in displaying substantial worthiness or commitment, ultimately leading to a lack of policy change. These findings can be further understood through group theory, which describes that strong relationships between interest groups and policy makers, as well as long-term interaction, are vital to the policy change process. In both of these areas AAM fell short in the long run.

Recommended Citation

Metzler, Hanna M., "Tractorcade: Investigating the Relationship Between Group Theory and the American Agriculture Movement's Attempt at Policy Change" (2021). Honors Theses. 1756.
https://egrove.olemiss.edu/hon_thesis/1756

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