Defining Social Movements and Contentious Politics Study Notes

Social Movement

A network of informal interactions between individuals, groups, and organizations that share a collective identity and engage in conflict to promote or resist social change.

Collective Identity

A shared sense of 'we' among those participating in a movement, where individual interests are connected to a broader struggle.

Informal Networks

Flexible connections that allow movement participants to communicate and coordinate, operating without a single, formal organization.

Conflict

A central characteristic of social movements where actors challenge an opponent over incompatible demands.

Social Change

Changes in cultural, economic, political, or social arrangements; movements may aim to promote or resist these changes.

Contentious Politics

Public and collective interactions where actors make claims affecting others' interests, usually involving conflict.

Collective Action

Action taken by multiple individuals acting together toward a shared grievance, goal, or interest.

Protest

A specific public expression of opposition or demand for change, part of a broader social movement.

Social Movement Organization (SMO)

A formal organization that identifies with the goals of a social movement and works to achieve those goals.

Campaign

A sustained, organized series of collective claims directed at specific targets or authorities.

Repertoire of Contention

A historically shaped set of protest tactics that can be utilized when making collective claims.

WUNC Displays

Framework arguing that movements communicate legitimacy and strength through public displays of Worthiness, Unity, Numbers, and Commitment.

Framing

The process movement actors use to interpret a situation and construct meaning around a problem.

Global Diffusion

The spread of frames, ideas, symbols, or tactics from one political or geographical context to another.

Transnational Social Movement

A movement where identities, networks, or collective actions extend across national borders.

Digital Activism

The use of online platforms and digital communication technologies for movement activities.

Leaderful Movement

A movement with distributed leadership where many actors fulfill leadership functions.

Leaderless Movement

A movement that operates without formal hierarchy but may have influential activists.

Movement vs. Organization

A movement is a broad network of actors linked by conflict, while an organization (SMO) is a formal actor within that network.

Movement vs. Protest

A protest is a specific event, whereas a movement is the sustained network from which multiple protests arise.

Movement vs. Coalition

A coalition is temporary cooperation among groups for a specific objective, while a social movement requires sustained interaction and a strong collective identity.

Social Movement

A network of informal interactions between individuals, groups, and organizations that share a collective identity and engage in conflict to promote or resist social change.

Collective Identity

A shared sense of 'we' among participants in a movement, connecting their individual interests to a broader struggle.

Informal Networks

Flexible connections between individuals and organizations that allow movement participants to communicate and coordinate without a formal structure.

Conflict

Central characteristic of movements where actors challenge an opponent over incompatible demands.

Social Change

Changes in cultural, economic, political, or social arrangements, promoted or resisted by movements.

Contentious Politics

Public interactions where actors make claims affecting others' interests, usually involving conflict.

Collective Action

Action taken by multiple individuals together toward a shared grievance, goal, or interest.

Protest

A specific public expression of opposition or demand for change, distinct from the broader social movement.

Social Movement Organization (SMO)

A formal organization that identifies with a social movement's goals and works to achieve them.

Campaign

A sustained, organized series of collective claims directed at specific targets or authorities.

Repertoire of Contention

A historically shaped set of familiar protest tactics utilized in collective claims.

WUNC Displays

Public displays of Worthiness, Unity, Numbers, and Commitment that movements use to demonstrate legitimacy and strength.

Framing

The process by which movement actors interpret a situation and construct meaning around a problem.

Global Diffusion

The spread of frames, ideas, symbols, tactics, or forms of protest across political or geographical contexts.

Digital Activism

The use of online platforms and technologies for coordinating and mobilizing movement activities.

Leaderful Movement

A decentralized movement with various actors performing leadership functions without a central leader.

Leaderless Movement

A movement that claims no formal hierarchy or centralized leadership, despite existing leadership functions.