In Pursuit of Freedom: The Radical Legacy of Alice Paul

• In Event: Pathways to Radicalism

Abstract

In this study, I explore the current theory of "radicalization" opposed to the past understanding of "militancy" identified in the historical record. The goal is to build a new theory of radicalization surrounding the British and American political struggle for suffrage equality. To develop this theory,
(1) I define the political theories of militant and radicalization. A proliferation of scholarly works focusing on political "radicalization" has occurred. I pull from several models of radicalization to establish a theory regarding female suffrage activity beginning in 1907 through the Equal Rights campaign of 1982.
(2) Alice Paul began her activism in England in the early 1900s. In 1918, the Representation of the People Act provided some English women the vote. In 1920, the 19th Amendment was finally passed giving American women the right to vote. However, the Equal Rights Amendment was never ratified. To investigate how feminist political ideology developed, I visited the British Library, Price Albert Royal Hall, and the London School of Economics’ Political Science's Women's Library during the 2018 One Hundredth celebration of the fight for equality. I will visit the Alice Paul Institute.
(3) I will develop a theoretical difference between militant and radical behavior. With the new theories surrounding terrorism, a new model needs to be developed revising the term "militant" to the latest terminology of "radicalization." The new theory will apply appropriate language, definitions and descriptive behaviors and practices.

Author

• Linda Kay Mancillas, Georgia Gwinnett College