Suchergebnisse

A social-psychological analysis of the dynamics of the conflict at the Sept 1971 Attica (NY) prison riot. Tom Wicker's A Time to Die (New York: Quadrancle, 1975), describing his experience as a mediator in the Attica negotiations, is used to examine the forces that blocked the communication necessary for conflict negotiation. It is suggested that the rebellions of 1968, the African-American political movements, & the antiwar movement were external forces that penetrated the prison walls, & that the politicization of prisoners, which gave much of the cogency to their revolt, was linked to these social movements. Wicker suggests that the events at Attica were under the control of an order of things that transcended negotiation & concern for individual lives. This order made the participants inflexible & unwilling to compromise, so that everyone felt or claimed to be powerless. It is contended that "the order of Attica" is an example of what can happen when social relations appear as relations between things, & when human creations (roles, institutions, laws) become objects that control & work against their creators in a hostile way. In institutional relations of unequal power, the order prescribes the process. In the case of Attica, the purpose was not to understand, but to ensure that hostile procedures were executed properly so that the governor would receive good public relations. 21 References. S. Millett

The negotiations between prisoners and state officials that preceded the encounter at Attica have been captured by Tom Wicker's account, A Time to Die (1975). Uses his account to analyze the forces that blocked the communication necessary for conflict negotiation. Considers social relations, hostility, violence, power and argumentation as sub-headings for the analysis. (RSM)

Introduction -- The 15 Practical Proposals of rebelling Attica Prisoners -- Plantation to plantation! September 13, 1971 -- The uprising -- Manifesto! -- D.M.Z. (Dead Man Zone) -- Massacre at Attica! -- The aftermath -- Who died at Attica, we will not forget -- Bibliography -- We owe a lot of thanks to a lot of incredible people who lived and died for the cause. We honor them here -- About the authors.

Reprints an interview with a major French commentator on penal reform in the wake of the Attica prison revolt. The interview was conducted just a few months after the 1971 uprising. Examines Foucault's views on exclusion and the relevance of the social context. (RSM)