Social Movements

The study of social movements examines collective, sustained challenges to authorities and the social processes by which people mobilize for change.

Scope

It covers the emergence, organization, strategies, and outcomes of movements, including resource mobilization, political opportunities, framing, and contentious politics.

Core questions

• Why and how do social movements emerge?
• How do movements mobilize resources and people?
• How do political contexts enable or constrain protest?
• How do movements frame grievances?
• What determines movement success?

Key concepts

• Resource mobilization
• Political opportunity structure
• Framing
• Repertoires of contention
• Collective action
• Mobilizing structures

Key theories

Resource mobilization

McCarthy and Zald shifted explanation from grievances to the resources and organizations that enable mobilization.

Political process / opportunities

McAdam explained movement emergence through political opportunities, organizational strength, and cognitive liberation.

Contentious politics

Tilly analysed movements as part of broader repertoires of contention linking mobilization to political change.

History

Moving beyond collective-behaviour and grievance theories, the field developed resource mobilization (McCarthy-Zald), the political-process model (McAdam, Tilly), and framing perspectives, converging in the study of contentious politics.

Debates

Grievances or resources and opportunities?

Whether movements arise mainly from grievances or from the resources, organization, and political openings that make mobilization possible.

Key figures

• Charles Tilly
• John McCarthy
• Mayer Zald
• Doug McAdam

Seminal works

• tilly-1978
• mccarthy-zald-1977
• mcadam-1982

Frequently asked questions

What is a political opportunity structure?

Features of the political environment (e.g., openings, allies, divided elites) that make collective action more likely to emerge and succeed.