Social movement

Contentious Politics

when ordinary people join forces to confront authority/elites.

Contentious Collective Action

collective action used by people who lack regular access to institutions, who have new or unaccepted claims, and whose actions challenge others or authorities.

Social movement

sequences of contentious collective action based on social networks and collective action frames, that develop capacity to maintain challenges from powerful opponents.

Properties of Social Movements

collective challenged, common purpose, solidarity/identity, sustaining contentious politics.

collective challenge

group of people working together to oppose system

common purpose

clear goal or vision directing the movement

solidarity/identity

members feel a sense of belonging sharing values or experiences

sustaining contentious politics

disruption or confrontation over an extended period of time

Grievance Theory

focus on mobilization as spontaneous reaction to grievance, not much attention to problems of mobilizations

Resource Mobilization theory

explains how collective action occurs, overcome collective action problem with organization (personal resources, external support)

Cultural Theories

attention to framing rather than resources or structural factors, identity politics

Conventional Contentious Action

(strikes, demonstration) widely known, low risk, not exciting

Violent Contentious Action

most visible, easiest, polarizing(civil rights, pro life)

Disruption Contentious Action

threats of violence, solidarity and determination (sit ins, non violent direct action).

Political opportunity theory

Dimensions of opporunity

increasing access, shifting alignments, divided elites, influential allies, repression

Increasing access

institutions become more open to public input and pushes for change

Shifting alignments

more opportunities for social movements during instability, Ex. Electoral instability, 1900s southern party realignment

Divided elites

conflicts amongst elites encourages contentious action, Tends to create incentives for groups to engage because of lower risk, ie some elites are not opposed to your viewpoint, Elites not in power have interest in getting involved in movement

Influential allies

Powerful individuals or organizations that support a movement - increases legitimacy

Repression and facilitation

what are the risks of repressing a movement,Is there a counter movement pushing back Modest movements face less repression

Centralized States

Centralized states have clear point of access, easy for movements to know where to go for change

Decentralized States

Choice in conditions, which branch of government do you go to? Less clarity

Inclusive Strategy

respond and absorbs to movement demands

Exclusive Strategy

A state or institution ignores, suppresses, or refuses to engage with a movement’s demands

Prospect Theory

individuals may mobilize more when they feel they are losing rights or status, not just when seeking new ones

Political Opportunities

Features of the political environment that make it easier or harder for movements to succeed, like elite divisions, access to institutions, or public crises.

Mobilizing Structures

The existing networks and organizations (e.g., churches, student groups, unions) that help movements recruit members, plan actions, and stay organized.

Framing

ways to underscore seriousness/injustice - role of emotion, invoking identity, passive into active support

Consensus formation

collective definition of a situation

Consensus mobilization

spreading a point of view

Traditional Media and Social Movements

gatekeeping, whether and how to portray movement

Online Media

decentralized, speed sharing info, citizens power and lack of verification

Traditional Media framing

incentives of media as a business = not neutral bystander

Modularity

repetition of successful protest tactics across different movements or contexts

civil disobedience

nonviolent refusal to obey certain laws or commands of a government to highlight injustice

What is uncivil obedience

Following laws or rules to an extreme or in unexpected ways to expose how unfair or absurd they are

Social movement frame

central organizing idea suggesting what is at issue