In September of 2011, a social phenomenon erupted near Wall Street, New York City, as thousands of demonstrators gathered to express their outrage toward what they perceived as deeply flawed economic and political systems. Their protest, and subsequent encampment on the Zuccotti Park lawn, would be emulated by collective actions in the United States and in various countries around the world. Though their concerns were nearly as inchoate and diverse as the participants themselves, the core of their message was clear: the status quo—in which exorbitant quantities of wealth accrued at the top of the income distribution, the (U.S.-based) bankers whose actions had inflamed the crisis received massive federal bailouts and scant punishment for their malfeasance, the global ecosystem was in peril, and liberal democracy had apparently been hijacked by oligarchs and corporate interests—was no longer acceptable.
This thesis examines the historical and contemporary antecedents of the Occupy movement, the impact of the uprising on public discourse and policy, the serious problems that motivated thousands of people to take over streets and public spaces in the fall of 2011, criticism toward the movement, its eventual disappearance (at least from its encampments, and the mainstream media’s view), and some of the institutions, initiatives, and consequences the movement has produced.