Midterm - Lecture 2: Social Movements PDF

Lecture 2 (seminar): Exam Notes Classical theories: main assumptions Core factors: 1. Structural Strain: - The classical model posits that social movements arise from underlying structural weaknesses in society (e.g. urbanization leads to rising housing prices). - These weaknesses...

Lecture 2 (seminar): Exam Notes Classical theories: main assumptions Core factors: 1. Structural Strain: - The classical model posits that social movements arise from underlying structural weaknesses in society (e.g. urbanization leads to rising housing prices). - These weaknesses create a sense of strain (discontent and grievances) that disrupts the social order, leading to collective action. 2. Psychological Disturbance: - Psychological effects of structural strain, suggesting that feelings of alienation, anxiety, and discontent among individuals can lead to the formation of social movements. - This psychological disturbance is seen as a necessary condition for mobilization. Example: Mass Society Theory - This theory within the classical model argues that the absence of intermediate social structures (like community organizations) leads to social isolation, which fosters feelings of alienation. These feelings can drive individuals to engage in extreme behaviors, such as participating in social movements. Example: Relative Deprivation - Suggests that social movements emerge when individuals perceive a gap between their expectations and their actual social conditions. When people feel relatively deprived compared to others, they are more likely to mobilize for change. - Decremental: Anger over the loss of what you once had - Aspirational: Increase in expectations (while positions/status remains the same) à failure to meet expectations can lead to frustration and mobilization into SM Davies' J-Curve Theory: - Hypothesis that economic growth leads to psychological expectations that conditions will improve. - When those expectations don’t meet reality, individuals experience an intolerable gap between actual social conditions and expected conditions. - Often after a period of improvement followed by a decline. Critique/weaknesses of classical model: 1. Pathologizes participants of SM a. Assumption of irrationality, emotional responses b. But, fails to account for why some SMs attract large numbers of participants across social backgrounds, including well-oO individuals. i. E.g. the U.S. civil rights movement included diverse socioeconomic backgrounds 2. Neglect of political goals and outcomes a. Overlooks concrete political goals that many movements pursue, focusing instead on SMs as responses to social dysfunction or discontent. i. Many aim for policy changes, social justice or legal reform. 3. “Social dysfunction” as a limited explanation a. Model assumes that social dysfunction or widespread discontent is enough for movements to emerge, but it is clear that discontent alone does NOT guarantee mobilization. b. Movements may fail to rise/grow when there is dissatisfaction due to factors as: strong repression, limited resources, rational calculations by individuals who see little chance of success. c. Overall, overlooks how access to resources, political opportunities or external support influences mobilization. Social movements: a meso perspective Participation is not only about individual values – becoming mobilized is a 4-step process. 4 steps to participation: 1. Mobilization potential (who agrees?) 2. Recruitment networks/mobilization attempts (who asks?) 3. Motivation to participation (who wants?) 4. Barrers to participation (what restrictions?) Resource Mobilization Theory Core factors: organizational strength and collective resources Focuses on resources as a group (material, skills, labor, etc.) - rather than psychological drivers of individuals Actors: organizations, elites, groups (not individuals). o Actors are rational, they strategize and plan o They have political power (e.g. via lobbying) Protest behavior is seen as political and as such is similar to institutionalized action Political and sociological rather than psychological approach It is “rational”, “instrumental”, “professional” by resourceful, socially, integrated people Key DiEerences Between Social Movements (SMs) and Social Movement Organizations (SMOs) Social Movements (SMs): o SMs are broad, often loosely connected groups of individuals who share a common set of values, grievances, or goals. o They represent the general, sometimes unstructured drive for social or political change but are rarely fully mobilized, as their participants may vary widely in commitment, resources, and involvement. Social Movement Organizations (SMOs): o SMOs are specific, often formal organizations that emerge WITHIN a movement to coordinate eOorts, mobilize resources, and work toward achieving the movement’s objectives. o For example, within the environmental movement, there are multiple SMOs like Greenpeace and the Sierra Club, each working toward environmental goals through structured programs and initiatives. o Social Movements typically have SMOs representing them – within a movement they may approach the movement’s goals from diOerent angles SMOs: Adherents and Nonadherents o Nonadherents: Nonadherents do not support the movement's goals and fall into two categories: bystanders and opponents. o Adherents: Adherents are individuals or organizations that support the goals of the movement. o Constituents: Those providing resources for it o Conscience adherents and constituents: the ones who do not benefit directly § Conscience Adherents: Individuals who support the movement’s goals despite not directly benefiting from the outcomes. For instance, someone might advocate for workers' rights even though they are not part of the working class. § Conscience Constituents: These are conscience adherents who actively contribute resources to the SMO. They play a vital role in the movement’s success by donating time, money, or skills out of a sense of moral obligation, empathy, or solidarity, rather than direct personal gain. The resource mobilization process in SMOs aims to grow the movement's base by converting individuals along two main pathways: 1. Turning non-adherents into adherents a. Engage bystanders to gain new adherents. 2. Converting adherents into constituents a. Once people support the movement’s goals, SMOs seek to mobilize them as constituents, encouraging them to contribute resources actively (asking them to volunteer, donate or engage in advocacy). Criticism of Resource Mobilization 1. DiOicult to diOerentiate between formal interest groups and social movements a. Risk of co-optation: movement is absorbed into established structures à can dilute movement’s goals 2. Too elitist a. Its focus on organized eOorts and resources can obscure the motivations of grassroot movements, esp. those initiated by marginalized or excluded groups. 3. No explanation for why certain marginalized groups, with fewer material resources, still can be successful in mobilizing many people 4. Underestimates disruptive protesting as a tactic