Social movement theory

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Social movement theory is an interdisciplinary study within the social sciences that generally seeks to explain why social mobilization occurs, the forms underwhich it manifests, as well as potential social, cultural, and political consequences. The three current, leading theories explaining these phenomena include:

Resource Mobilization- The assumption here is that for a social movement to first exist and then to thrive, it needs to operate similar to a business which makes efficient use of available resources.^[1] Scholars have suggested a typology of five types of resources:

1. Material (money and physical capital);
2. Moral (solidarity, support for the movement's goals);
3. Social-Organizational (organizational strategies, social networks, bloc recruitment);
4. Human (volunteers, staff, leaders);
5. Cultural (prior activist experience, understanding of the issues, collective action know-how)^[2]

Political Opportunity/Political Process- Certain political contexts should be conducive (or representative) for potential social movement activity. These climates may [dis]favor specific social movements or general social movement activity; the climate may be signaled to potential activists and/or structurally allowing for the possibility of social movement activity (matters of legality); and the political opportunities may be realized through political concessions, social movement participation, or social movement organizational founding. ^{[3] [4] [5] [6]}

Framing - Certain claims activists make on behalf of their social movement "resonate" with audiences including media, elites, sympathetic allies, and potential recruits. Successful frames draw upon shared cultural understandings (e.g. rights, morality).^[7]

see also Frame analysis

[edit] References

1. ^ McCarthy, John D., Mayer N. Zald (1977). "Resource Mobilization and Social Movements: A Partial Theory.". American Journal of Sociology 82 (6): 1212-41.
2. ^ Edwards, Bob, John D. McCarthy (2004). “Resources and Social Movement Mobilization”, Snow, Soule, and Kriesi: The Blackwell Companion to Social Movements. Oxford: Blackwell, 116-52.
3. ^ Meyer, David S., Debra C. Minkoff (2004). "Conceptualizing Political Opportunity". Social Forces 82 (4): 1457-92.
4. ^ McAdam, Doug (1982). Political Process and the Development of Black Insurgency, 1930-1970. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
5. ^ Meyer, David S. (2004). "Protest and Political Opportunities". Annual Review of Sociology 30: 125-145.
6. ^ Goodwin, Jeff, James M. Jasper (1999). "Caught in a Winding, Snarling Vine: The Structural Bias of Political Process Theory". Sociological Forum 14 (1): 27-54. for critique
7. ^ Benford, Robert D., David A. Snow (2000). "Framing Processes and Social Movements: An Overview and Assessment". Annual Review of Sociology 26: 611-639.