SOCI 210: Sociological perspectives

Agenda

  1. Administrative
  2. Defining social movements
  3. Theories of social movements
  4. Discussion:
    Theorizing textile worker strikes

Administrative

Final exam

  • Wednedsay, April 16, 2:00pm-5:00pm
  • Exam format will be similar to the midterm, but somewhat longer

Final exam refrence sheets

  • Reference sheets will be individually created
    Change from the group sheets from the midterm
  • You may work with others on the sheet, but you are responsible for pringing and bringing your own sheet to the exam
  • One sheet of letter/A4 paper (front and back)
  • No electronic devices allowed

Defining social movements

Photo of a large protest crowd. A person in the front with a black bandana on their face races a fist above their head. Many signs are visible, including one behind the central figure readeing 'NO JUSTICE NO PEACE'

Social movements

Collective behavior

  • Very broad category
  • Groups coordinating action
    (not necessarily deliberately or toward a goal)
  • Variety of causes and consequences

Social change

  • Very broad category
  • Change in institutions, norms, culture, values
    (not necessarily through deliberate action)
  • Wide range of causes

Social movements

  • Deliberate push for social change through collective action (of non-elites)
    Successful or unsuccessful

Social movements

photo of a large mass of people holding signs protesting inaction on climate change photo of trailer painted black with TINY HOUSE WARRIORS written in large white letters on the side. In the foreground a large sign reads UNCECED SECWPEMC TERRITORY photo of a crowd of white people holding mass-produced tiki torches at night as part of a march. Prominant in the foreground is a sweaty white man yelling angrily. photo of a line of pickup and semi tractor trucks with a variety of anti-government and anti-public health signs. In front, a man paces holding a sign reading HOLD THE LINE

Social movements

Broad(er) definition

  • Any collective force working to change society
  • Examples abound throughout history
    Revolution
    Mass violence
    Coalitions forcing change
Oil painting of the French Revolution. A crowd of people surround a large guillotine in the middle of a public square
Black and white photo from the mid 20th century of a protest march. A crowd of mainly Black people wearing suits hold cleanly printed protest signs with slogans demanding equal rights, end to bias, etc.

Narrow(er) definition

  • Specific form of institutionalized political activity (Charles Tilly)
  • “Social movements” are defined by organizations or groups of organizations (campaigns)
  • Repertoire of actions
    Rallies; marches; petitions; strikes; vigils; …
  • Historically specific form
    Emerged in 18th century
    Specific to modern democratic ideals and “civil society”

Theories
of social movements

Photo of the US Senate in which a large number of senators are standing waving pieces of paper in the air. The scene seems highly disorderly.

Social movement theories

What is there to explain?

  • Emergence
    Why do social movements arise?
    What conditions favor a concerted, collective effort to change
    the status quo?
  • Success
    How do social movements achieve their goals?
    What increases a movement’s chances of
  • Persistence
    Why do social movements last?
    What helps certain social movements maintain relevance?

Explanatory theories

  • Many, many theoretical approaches to the study of social movements
  • We will discuss five prominent sociological perspectives
  • As we go through these theoretical frameworks, think about whether and how they were used by Roscigno and Danaher (2001)

Social movement theories

1a

(Absolute) deprivation theory

  • Aims to explain the emergence of socialmovements
  • People will organize against oppression if material conditions fall below breaking point
  • Marx & Engels
    Capital accumulation will lead to absolute deprivation of workers, resulting in revolution

Social movement theories

1b

Relative deprivation theory

  • Revolts occur even when people have the basic requirements for survival
  • Important factor is the difference between actual conditions and expectations

Social movement theories

2

Resource mobilization theory

  • To emerge, succeed, and persist, social movements need resources.
    Money; leadership; people; networks; attention; …
  • Many causes have large numbers of supporters, but not all causes build successful movements.
  • Movements exist because they are able to acquire resources and mobilize those resources actively and strategically.
  • Approach focusses on organizations and their administration.

Social movement theories

3

Political opportunity theory

  • Emergence and success of social movements depends on the political context.

  • Some dimensions of political opportunity:

    • Access – (Perceived) ability to affect policy processes
    • Instability – Disruptions of existing coalitions (party politics)
    • Allies – Sympathetic and influential political actors
    • Elite conflict – Schisms and discord among political actors

  • Focus on interplay between state (and other powerful actors) and movements.

  • State action has sway over movement outcomes.
    Changes in voting laws may change types of political allies
    Changes in governance structure may lead to elite conflict

  • Perceptions of political opportunity may differ from realized structures of political opportunity

Social movement theories

4

Collective identity theory

  • Emergence, success, and persistence of movements often relies on shared social identity among participants
  • Many movements are based on defining a relevant group identity for those affected
    E.g. Labor, ethnic, racial, gender categories
    "Mothers Against Drunk Driving"
    "Students for a Democratic Society"
  • Collective identity can help frame ideals, problems, and actions

Social movement theories

5

Frame theory

  • Application of frame analysis
    (symbolic interactionism)
    Frames are clusters of basic, contextual expectations about roles, behavior, responses, relevant criteria of judgement
  • Frames provide legitimacy, encouraging participation in social movements.
  • Movements are not just about resources, specific grievances, or political goals
  • Value orientations, expectations of social structures, ideas about tactics, etc. can be at odds even if broad grievances are the same
    E.g. liberal versus radical feminist movements
  • Frame matters as much as content
    Opposition to genetically modified food can be framed in terms of health, environmental justice, anti-capitalism, …

Diagnostic frame

What is the problem that needs to be addressed?

Prognostic frame

What is causing the problem and what should be done about it?

Motivational frame

Why should I be involved?

Theorizing textile worker strikes

In groups of 2-3

  • Briefly consider the role of radio in the textile worker insurgency described in Roscigno and Danaher (2001) through the five theoretical frameworks just discussed

    1. Deprivation theory
    2. Resource mobilization theory
    3. Political opportunity theory
    4. Collective identity theory
    5. Frame theory

  • Which frameworks did Roscigno and Danaher rely on?

  • Which frameworks do you think explain the insurgency?