Social Movement theory:

1
Social Movement theory

• Major Approaches

2
Relative deprivation theory (1970s)

•  Key concerns - why people rebel
•  Key idea - social movements occur when people
  become more oppressed.
• Higher levels of discontent or oppression produce
  a greater likelihood of social uprising and
  unrest.
• Key terms Relative deprivation - a perceived
  discrepancy between expectations and
  capabilities.

3
Critiques of Relative Deprivation

• Empirically weak
• Did not explain why or how people outside the
  aggrieved community became involved
• Political scientists and political sociologists
  didnt like emphasis on psychology
•  

4
Resource mobilization theory (late 70s and 80s)

• Key concerns critique of early theory, dynamics
  tactics. Focus on how.
• Key idea SM activists are not irrational or
  isolated SMs are the outcome of purposeful and
  deliberate action by rational people making good
  strategic decisions.
• SMs shaped driven in part by access to
  external, material resources ( and labor).
• Key terms (Zald McCarthy)
• Social Movement Orgs (SMOs) formal org. that
  identifies its goals with the preferences of a
  social movement
• Social Movement Industries(SMIs) all SMOs
  that have as their goal the attainment of the
  broadest preference of a SM.

5
Critiques of Res. Mob. Theory

• Doesnt really address the why of SMs
• Doesnt account for grassroots movements
• Some analysts didnt like its emphasis on
  economics

6
Political Process Model (Political Opportunity
Model, 1990s)

• Key concerns why movements arise, dynamics of
  movements
• Key ideas external political structures prompt
  rise and fall of a SM. Social Movement arise due
  to specific configurations of political
  opportunity.
• Key terms Political Opportunity Structure,
  repertoires of contention

7
Key concept 1 repertoire of contention

• What people DO when engaged in conflict what
  they KNOW HOW TO DO what others EXPECT them to
  do. The ways people act in pursuit of shared
  interests.

8
Old repertoires

• Food riots
• Grain seizures
• Festivals funerals
• Loud
• Claiming fields lands

• Local (parochial)
• Direct

9
New repertoires

• Demonstrations
• Strikes
• Rallies
• Petition drives
• Sit-ins
• Stone throwing, etc.

• Modular
• National