Detailed Study Notes on Environmental Movement Organizations

OVERVIEW OF ENVIRONMENTAL MOVEMENT ORGANIZATIONS (EMOs)

  • Authors: Joann Carmin (Virginia Tech), Deborah B. Balser (University of Missouri–St. Louis)
  • Publication Date: December 2002
  • Focus: Examination of factors influencing EMOs in selecting repertoires of action.

EMO Tactics and Strategies

  • Diversity in Tactics: EMOs with similar goals use different tactics and strategies to promote their agendas.
  • Influencing Factors: Selection of action repertoires influenced by:
    • Experience
    • Core values and beliefs
    • Environmental philosophy
    • Political ideology
  • Interpretive Process: Interpretive processes inform how organizations view the political environment and select actions.

CASE STUDIES: Greenpeace vs. Friends of the Earth (FOE)

  • Greenpeace Action: Launched a ship on April 27, 1975, to protect whales during whaling seasons.
  • Friends of the Earth Action: Organized vigils and public service announcements to raise awareness rather than direct action.
  • Tactical Differences:
    • Greenpeace: Engaged in nonviolent direct action.
    • FOE: Relied on institutional tactics (lawsuits, lobbying, educational campaigns).

THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK

  • Resource Mobilization: Examines how organizational structure and political context shape repertoires.
  • Sensemaking in Organizations: EMOs do not merely react to external conditions; they interpret and construct meaning through internal processes.
  • Distinction of Filters:
    • Environmental Philosophy: Identified as an influential factor but not exclusive; needs to be distinguished from political ideology.
    • Unified Framework: Experience, core values, beliefs, and political ideology shape tactical choices interdependently.

ORGANIZATIONAL REPERTOIRES OF ACTION

  • Definition: A cluster of tactics employed by organizations to achieve their goals over a historical period.
  • Types of Repertoires:
    • Institutional Tactics: e.g., lobbying, litigation
    • Expressive Tactics: e.g., protests, boycotts
  • Historical Context:
    • Early EMOs predominantly used lobbying.
    • Post-1970s organizations adopted more expressive and politically charged tactics (e.g., Earth First!).
  • Implications of Funding:
    • Types of funding sources (corporate vs. individual) affect tactic acceptance and selection.

FOUR FILTERS SHAPING TACTICAL CHOICES

  • Experience:
    • Historical knowledge influences how tactics are perceived as effective.
    • Examples: Formation of Earth First! by individuals disillusioned with existing organizations.
  • Core Values and Beliefs:
    • Normative views guide what is considered acceptable behavior and actions.
    • Cases like the Southern Christian Leadership Conference illustrate the power of founder beliefs shaping organizational actions.
  • Environmental Philosophy:
    • Specific beliefs about nature influence how organizations diagnose issues. The spectrum includes conservationist to ecocentric views.
    • Brulle's Philosophical Discourses: Includes various environmental philosophies such as ecofeminism and environmental justice.
  • Political Ideology:
    • Influence of ideologies (e.g., liberalism, socialism) on perceptions of political processes.
    • Differentiation between participatory democracy (FOE) and critical views on corporate power (Greenpeace).

DETAILED ANALYSIS OF FOE AND GREENPEACE

Friends of the Earth (FOE)
  • Founding Context: Established in 1969 by David Brower after his tenure with the Sierra Club.
  • Mission Statement: Commitment to “preservation, restoration, and rational use of the earth.” Focus on political engagement through litigation and lobbying.
  • Funding Model: Major funds derived from membership dues; embraced a grassroots approach rather than reliance on large donors.
  • Core Values: Strong legalistic approach; nonviolent, institutional support for environmental reforms.
  • Environmental Philosophy: Emphasizes interconnectedness of all species and ecosystems.
  • Examples of Actions: Banning pesticides campaign and legal actions against the Alaska oil pipeline.
Greenpeace
  • Founding Context: Roots in the anti-Vietnam War sentiment and anti-nuclear movement, initially formed as Don’t Make a Wave Committee.
  • Mission Expansion: Transition to Greenpeace Foundation; broadening focus to incorporate environmental issues with peace advocacy.
  • Core Values: Quaker foundations led to a commitment to nonviolence and bearing witness rather than property destruction.
  • Environmental Philosophy: Sought equity among all species, with an emphasis on human impacts on the environment.
  • Methods of Action: Direct actions, including blocking whaling vessels and highlighting environmental injustices.

DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS

  • Cognitive Filters and Interpretations: How EMOs view and react to environmental and political contexts is influenced by their experiences, core values, beliefs, and ideologies.
  • Variation in Repertoires: Differences in organization ideologies led to distinct actions even within the same broad environmental philosophy (reform environmentalism).
  • Critical Analysis of Resource Mobilization Theory: Introducing the interpretive structure into decision-making enhances understanding beyond mere material resources and political opportunities.

CONCLUSION

  • Implications for Future Research:
    • Exploration of internal conflicts and sub-group variations within EMOs.
    • Examination of the evolution of interpretations as organizational contexts continue to change.

NOTES

  • Research Methods:
    • Data gathered from in-depth interviews with EMO representatives and archival documents (e.g., newsletters, articles).
    • Grounded theory method utilized to analyze how cognitive filters shape organizational actions.

REFERENCES

  • A comprehensive list of academic and literary references related to environmental movements, tactics, and organizational theory, as cited throughout the article and discussions.