The people now function as social cohesion rather than social change

Evidence

But the struggle for the solution has outgrown the traditional forms. The totalitarian tendencies of the one-dimensional society render the traditional ways and means of protest ineffective—perhaps even dangerous because they preserve the illusion of popular sovereignty. This illusion contains some truth: “the people,” previously the ferment of social change, have “moved up” to become the ferment of social cohesion. Here rather than in the redistribution of wealth and equalization of classes is the new stratification characteristic of advanced industrial society. — Herbert Marcuse, One-Dimensional Man, 885

Categorization

• XREF: The claim that protest preserves the illusion of popular sovereignty maps directly onto critiques of performative online activism and slacktivism in the attention economy. — connects to: Social cohesion needs natural selection or rational foresight, not just function — Diego Gambetta, Trust - Making and Breaking Cooperative…, 1934; Social systems can enable change, and new roles redefine group stereotypes — , Rudman, Laurie A - On the Nature of…, 226; Resistance to social change comes from culturally invested groups facing obsolescence — Antonio Gramsci, Selections from the Prison Notebooks, 1028 (+1 more)

Broader Connections

• Social systems can enable change, and new roles redefine group stereotypes #contradicts (0.78) — , Rudman, Laurie A - On the Nature of…, 226
• Social cohesion needs natural selection or rational foresight, not just function #qualifies (0.75) — Diego Gambetta, Trust - Making and Breaking Cooperative…, 1934
• Others facing the same exclusion often adapt rather than fight #corroborates (0.75)
• Resistance to social change comes from culturally invested groups facing obsolescence #complicates (0.72) — Antonio Gramsci, Selections from the Prison Notebooks, 1028