Why the resistance movement against the

Potsdam Wal-Mart faileda frame-based analysis

by Max Edmands

Primary Sources

1. Personal interviews

2. WCKN video of town meetings

3. Records from Town and Village

4. News articles

1. History

2. Frames

3. Analysis

1988 2008

1988 2008

November 1988: Initial interest with Village

Wal-Mart openings

(until 2005)

1998:2390 stores

1988 2008

- Wanted water & sewage system- Village wanted $118,000 for building permits

November 1988: Initial interest with Village

1988 2008

2001:Communication ends

November 1988:Initial interest with Village

1988 2008

March 2004:Wal-Mart comes back

November 1988:Initial interest with Village

2001:Communication ends

- Citizens for Responsible Growth incorporates- Environmental Impact Statement battle

Wal-Mart openings

(until 2005)2004:

2942 stores

1998:2390 stores

1988 2008

November 1988:Initial interest with Village

2001:Communication ends March 2004:

Wal-Mart comes back

December 2005:Lawsuits

1988 2008

November 1988:Initial interest with Village

2001:Communication ends March 2004:

Wal-Mart comes back

July 2007:Construction begins

December 2005:Lawsuits

1. History

2. Frames

3. Analysis

Frames

1. Identity frames

2. Characterization frames

3. Whole Story frames

Outsiders and Locals

Students and Professors

Working-class community membersand

Small business owners

Small-town preservers and Active resisters

1. History

2. Frames

3. Analysis

Analysis:

How could the resisters have done better?

Strategy #1:

Amplifying the voices of local “celebrities.”

Strategy #2:

Giving the working class a viable alternative to the Wal-Mart.

Strategy #3:

Emphasizing labor unions.

Photo Sources:

Google Maps North Country Nowhttp://www.northcountrynow.com/hometown-photos/view.asp?a=Potsdam&id=1736

Wal-mart openings data compiled by omas J. Holmes for his paper “Diffusion of Wal-Mart and Economies of Density”http://econ.umn.edu/ holmes/data/WalMart/index.html

All other images by Max Edmands