Social Movements

Questions Examples of Social Movements

Questions Examples of Social Movements Characteristics of Social Movements

Characteristics No specific size No membership criteria No formal structure Not hierarchically organized

Questions Examples of Social Movements Characteristics of Social Movements Why do people join them?

Personal advantage Principled commitment Group solidarity Desire to be part of a group

Is it rational to join a social movement? What motivates people to join? Is this any different than interest groups?

Questions Examples of Social Movements Characteristics of Social Movements Why do people join them? How do they try to get what they want?

Tactics Emphasis on outsider strategies (but not exclusively) Refer to a cultural repertoire of “routines of collective action”

Questions Examples of Social Movements Characteristics of Social Movements Why do people join them? How do they try to get what they want? What gives rise to them?

What gives rise to a social movement? Unaddressed oppression/grievances Movement entrepreneurs Changes in political opportunity structure

Questions Examples of Social Movements Characteristics of Social Movements Why do people join them? How do they try to get what they want? What gives rise to them? What keeps them going?

What keeps a social movement going? Cohesive social groups Keeping focus –But successful movements broaden Avoiding radicalization –But consensus movements generate radicals