Political process theory treats social movements as a type of political movement in that the origins of a social movement are traced to the availability of political opportunities. Social and material inequalities have often formed the bases on which the largest social movements have emerged. Social movement theory of change story strategy structure influencer power people power institutional power narrative power movement vision toppling, transforming, andor absorbing the institutional, cultural, and social pillars that prop up the status quo. Past analysis of social movements and social movement organizations has normally assumed a close link between the frustrations or grievances of a collectivity of actors and the growth and decline of movement activity. Movements emerge for a variety of reasons see the theories below, coalesce, and generally bureaucratize. Social movement theory is an interdisciplinary study within the social sciences that generally seeks to explain why social mobilization occurs, the forms under which it manifests, as well as potential social, cultural, and political consequences. The handbook presents a most updated and comprehensive exploration of social movement research. Recurring questions, partially changing answers 1 1.
As van stekelenburg and klandermans 2009 point out, there have been significant changes to social movement theory over the years, as the contexts of social movements in the world have changed. The article maintains that a social movement s success depends on promoting a social rather than an individual form of consciousness. Oberschall, social movements and the transition to democracy 2000, 28 and cf, oberschall, theories of social conflict 1978, 292. Four stages of social movements one of the earliest scholars to study social movement processes was herbert blumer, who identified four stages of social movements lifecycles. Structural approaches in the sociology of social movements. Theories of social movements originated in research on crowd behavior while organization theory was founded on theories of rational bureaucracy. Leadership in social movements aldon morris and suzanne. Taken together, they promise theory that is both broader in scope and better able to address the diversity of social movements.
An introduction colin barker, laurence cox, john krinsky and alf gunvald nilsen a case for a marxist revival. Social movement theory of change innovation network. Syllabus for graduate seminar at university of pennsylvania. Resource mobilization theory and the study of social. Amongst recent contributions to the theory of social movements, the one that has the highest aspirations to being a general theory of social and political change is also the one that makes the strongest claims to be useful to social movements themselves. In short, a social movement approach to terrorism would consider it as one form of contentious politics, analyzable within the existing framework of social movement theory.
The term new social movements nsms is a theory of social movements that attempts to explain the plethora of new movements that have come up in various western societies roughly since the mid1960s i. In the west, for example, we see a history of robust social movements organized around labor, around gender, and around race. Social scientists interest themselves in why social movements emerge. A focus on great leaders risks neglect of structural opportunities and obstacles to collective action, while an emphasis on structures of opportunity risks slighting human agency. Sociologists have looked at social movements and offered several theories to explain how they develop. Collective hehavior theorists view social movements as noninstitutionalized social change efforts jenkins 1983. This concise yet indepth primer provides a broad overview of theoretical issues in the study of social movements, illustrating key concepts with a series of case studies. This article offers an overview and assessment of the utility of new social movement theories for analyzing contemporary forms of collective action.
The article beings with a brief overview of the origins of new social movement theory and a description of some of the general tenets of this approach. Most theories of social movements are called collective action theories, indicating the purposeful nature of this form of collective behavior. Critics claim that this division is artificial, because movements concerned with moral and qualityoflife issues coexisted with workers labor movements during the period of industrialization. Contents preface to the second edition vii 1 the study of social movements. Social movements 9 distinguishing social change and social movements it is important to distinguish between social change in general and social movements. Structural approaches in the sociology of social movements jackie smith and tina fetner last modified. Valueadded theory smelser asserted six conditions are necessary and sufficient to produce social movements when they combine or interact in a particular situation. Social movement theories of chap 16 flashcards quizlet. Questioning the theoretical centrality of this assumption directs social movement analysis away from its heavy emphasis upon the social psychology of social movement participants. Essay on theories of social movements worlds largest.
Do feelings of discontent, desires for a change of pace, or even yearnings for change for the sake of change cause these shifts. These four dimensions are seen as necessary for the rise of social movements and their turn to violence. Finally, the paper also takes a look at how these theories bridge the gap between social movements and any form of adult learning that might occur as a result of participation in these movements. This volume looks at social movements and social movement research through the lens of different social theories. While structured around traditional social movement concepts, each section combines the mapping of the. Social movements across disciplines bert klandermans and conny roggeband, editors. Oxford handbook of social movements oxford handbooks. It derives from an intellectual dissatisfaction with the predominantly marxist view that treats social movements as reflecting a fundamental struggle among classes organized around economic production. Political protest and social movements are ubiquitous phenomena. Social movements cleverly translates the art of collective action and mobilization by excluded groups to facilitate understanding social change from below.
People join specific social movements for an almost infinite variety of reasons including idealism, altruism, compassion, political considerations, practical benefits, religious fervour, as well as neurotic frustration. Theories of political protest and social movements a. The work of marx and engels represents a distillation. The second theory is the new social movement theory. On the one hand, marxism is a body of theory that developed from and was crafted for social movements. Rather than being one specific theory, it is more of a perspective that revolves around. Our goal in this essay is to show that by taking leadership into account we can improve explanations of key issues in social movement theory. Students learn the core components of social movements, the theory and methods used to study them, and the conditions under which they can lead to political and social transformation. These are regarded as dis tinctive parts of social life killian 1964. What can social movement studies learn from these theories.
The sociology of social movements 29 movements focusing on the environment, womens rights, gay rights, and animal rights. Three of those theories deprivation theory, masssociety theory and structure strain theory. More precisely, this theory looks at the social movement in question to that of the state or the power of the government in charge. Social movement theory between modernism and postmodernism the aim of this final chapter is to outline some essential elements of a critical theory of social movements. Social movement theory proposes that social movements are, in many instances, created through the use and manipulation of frames. Critics claim that this division is artificial, because movements concerned with moral and qualityoflife issues coexisted with workers labor movements during the. Social change is the significant alteration of social structures i. Resource mobilization an overview sciencedirect topics. Theoretical perspectives on social movements sociology.
Resource mobilization theory focuses on the assets and capacities of aggrieved groups to explain the rise, development and outcome of social movements. Social movements around the world have used a wide variety of protest tactics to bring about enormous social changes, influencing cultural arrangements, public opinion, and government policies in the process. Social movements, including deviant social movements such as gangs, influence and control their members through tactics such as mobilizing fear, engaging in frame appropriation. Each student will also read an empirical study, selected from the list below. The study of social movements as specific social processes with specific patterns emerged from this field of study. The genesis of social movements is in the coexistence of contrasting value systems and of groups in con. This book focuses on the current theoretical approaches that aim at explaining them. Emerging trends in the study of protest and social movements. The contribution of social movement theory to understanding.
Theories of social movements free download as powerpoint presentation. It not only maps, but also expands the field of social movement studies, taking stock of recent developments in cognate areas of studies, within and beyond sociology and political science. The problem of explaining social change was central to nineteenth century sociology. Other articles where new social movement theory is discussed.
Apr 08, 2009 political protest and social movements are ubiquitous phenomena. Social theory and social movements mutual inspirations. Social change is such a prevalent and often disturbing feature of contemporary life that one may be tempted to suppose that it is peculiarly modern. Social movement researchers began importing ideas from organization theory in the 1970s to. At the mesolevel, movements cultures, organizational models, and repertoires of action are covered. Mccarthy and zald 1977 conceptualize resource mobilization. Drawing on a rational choice approach, resources are defined broadly to include tangible resources, such as money and facilities, and intangible resources. Social movements arise as a response to peoples perception that they have been deprived of their fair share. Jasper this course will examine the main approaches to the study of social movements over the last forty years, with an emphasis on theoretical assumptions rather than on empirical or methodological aspects. Klandermans and others published social movement theory.
In times of societal quiescence, analysts of social movements are drawn toward structural and away from voluntaristic theories of social. Social movements are not only a potential challenge to societies, they also challenge social theory. Pdf 2016 theories of revolutions and social movements. Activists sometimes argue that sociological theories of social movements are mere academic parasitism and that what is needed, if theory is needed at all, is theory for social movements, theory fashioned by people committed to social movements and designed to be useful to movement activists rather than to. The classical approaches emerged at the turn of the century. Academic theories of social movements that developed in the fifties and sixties. Emerging trends in the study of protest and social.
The four stages of social movement development are emergence, coalescence, bureaucra tization, and decline. Resource mobilization theory and the study of social movements. Introduction to sociologysocial movements wikibooks, open. The broad historical processes of social change are the sum total of countless individual and collective actions gathered across time and space.
This article provides a theory of social movements that draws on durkheim and network theory. Each of these categories represents not only a group of people wishing to improve their lot, but also a. The following three theories are but a few of the many classic and modern theories developed by social scientists. Blumer, mauss, and tilly have described different stages social movements often pass through.
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