chapter 21 collective action and social movements

Chapter Chapter 2121Collective Action andCollective Action and

Social MovementsSocial Movements

Chapter OutlineChapter Outline

How to Spark a RiotHow to Spark a RiotNonroutine Collective Action: The Lynch Mob Nonroutine Collective Action: The Lynch Mob Social MovementsSocial MovementsCase Study: Strikes and the Union Movement in Case Study: Strikes and the Union Movement in AmericaAmericaFraming DiscontentFraming DiscontentSocial Movements From the 18th to the 21st Social Movements From the 18th to the 21st CenturyCentury

*Collective Action*Collective Action

Occurs when people act in unison to bring about Occurs when people act in unison to bring about or resist social, political, and economic change. or resist social, political, and economic change. RoutineRoutine collective actions typically follow collective actions typically follow established patterns of behavior in existing established patterns of behavior in existing social structures.social structures.NonroutineNonroutine collective actions take place when collective actions take place when usual conventions cease to guide social action usual conventions cease to guide social action and people bypass or subvert established and people bypass or subvert established structures.structures.

Frequency of Lynching,Frequency of Lynching,United States, 1882–1935United States, 1882–1935

*Breakdown Theory of Nonroutine *Breakdown Theory of Nonroutine Collective ActionCollective Action

Three Factors: Three Factors:

A group of people must be economically A group of people must be economically deprived or socially rootless. deprived or socially rootless.

Their norms must be strained or disrupted. Their norms must be strained or disrupted.

They must lose the capacity to act rationally by They must lose the capacity to act rationally by getting caught up in the madness of crowds.getting caught up in the madness of crowds.

QuestionQuestion

Civil disobedience is better to use than militant Civil disobedience is better to use than militant activity for groups to get their point across for activity for groups to get their point across for social change. social change.

a.a. Strongly agreeStrongly agree

b.b. Agree somewhatAgree somewhat

c.c. UnsureUnsure

d.d. Disagree somewhatDisagree somewhat

*Deprivation, Crowds, and the *Deprivation, Crowds, and the Breakdown of NormsBreakdown of Norms

Most pre-1970 sociologists would have said Most pre-1970 sociologists would have said lynchings were caused by:lynchings were caused by:

1.1. Background of economic deprivation Background of economic deprivation experienced by impoverished and marginal experienced by impoverished and marginal members of the community.members of the community.

2.2. The inherent irrationality of crowd behavior.The inherent irrationality of crowd behavior.

3.3. The serious violation of norms.The serious violation of norms.

*Deprivation and Poverty*Deprivation and Poverty

Absolute deprivationAbsolute deprivation is a condition of is a condition of extreme poverty.extreme poverty.

Relative deprivationRelative deprivation is an intolerable gap is an intolerable gap between the social rewards people feel between the social rewards people feel they deserve and the social rewards they they deserve and the social rewards they actually receive. actually receive.

*Assessing Breakdown Theory: *Assessing Breakdown Theory: LynchingsLynchings

DeprivationDeprivation Research shows no association between Research shows no association between

fluctuations in economic well-being and fluctuations in economic well-being and lynchings that took place between the 1880s lynchings that took place between the 1880s and the 1930s.and the 1930s.


ContagionContagion is the process by which is the process by which extreme passions supposedly spread extreme passions supposedly spread rapidly through a crowd like a contagious rapidly through a crowd like a contagious disease.disease. Many lynchings were neither spontaneous or Many lynchings were neither spontaneous or

unorganized. unorganized.


StrainStrain refers to breakdowns in refers to breakdowns in traditional norms that precede traditional norms that precede collective action.collective action. Lynching was a means by which black Lynching was a means by which black

farm workers were kept tied to the farm workers were kept tied to the southern cotton industry after the abolition southern cotton industry after the abolition of slavery threatened to disrupt the of slavery threatened to disrupt the industry’s traditional, captive labor supply.industry’s traditional, captive labor supply.

QuestionQuestion

What flaws have sociologists uncovered in What flaws have sociologists uncovered in breakdown theory?breakdown theory?

a.a. Elected leaders generally do not play a part in mob Elected leaders generally do not play a part in mob actions.actions.

b.b. Levels of deprivation are not commonly associated Levels of deprivation are not commonly associated with the frequency or intensity of outbursts of with the frequency or intensity of outbursts of collective action.collective action.

c.c. Even nonroutine collective action is usually structured.Even nonroutine collective action is usually structured.d.d. b. and c. onlyb. and c. only

Answer: dAnswer: d

Sociologists uncovered the following flaws Sociologists uncovered the following flaws in breakdown theory: in breakdown theory: Levels of deprivation are not commonly Levels of deprivation are not commonly

associated with the frequency or intensity associated with the frequency or intensity of outbursts of collective actionof outbursts of collective action..

Even nonroutine collective action is Even nonroutine collective action is usually structuredusually structured..

Social Disorganization and Social Disorganization and Collective Action: Prison RiotsCollective Action: Prison Riots

Prison riots tend to occur under certain Prison riots tend to occur under certain circumstances:circumstances:

1.1. Government officials make new Government officials make new demands of prison administrators demands of prison administrators without providing resources.without providing resources.

2.2. Corrections staff oppose the reforms.Corrections staff oppose the reforms.

Social Disorganization and Social Disorganization and Collective Action: Prison RiotsCollective Action: Prison RiotsPrison riots tend to occur under certain Prison riots tend to occur under certain circumstances:circumstances:

3.3. Prison administrators take actions that inmates Prison administrators take actions that inmates perceive as unjust. perceive as unjust.

4.4. Inmates decide that living conditions should be Inmates decide that living conditions should be better and that rioting will draw attention to those better and that rioting will draw attention to those conditions.conditions.

*Rumors and Riots*Rumors and RiotsRumorsRumors are claims about the world that are claims about the world that are not supported by authenticated are not supported by authenticated information.information.

They are a form of communication that They are a form of communication that takes place when people try to construct a takes place when people try to construct a meaningful interpretation of an ambiguous meaningful interpretation of an ambiguous situation.situation.

While rumor transmission is a form of While rumor transmission is a form of collective action, it typically intensifies just collective action, it typically intensifies just before and during riots.before and during riots.

The Social DeterminantsThe Social Determinantsof Rumorsof Rumors

QuestionQuestion

Have you ever participated in an Have you ever participated in an organized protest?organized protest?

a.a. YesYes

b.b. NoNo

*Solidarity Theory*Solidarity Theory

Holds that social movements are social Holds that social movements are social organizations that emerge when organizations that emerge when potential members:potential members: mobilize resourcesmobilize resources

take advantage of new political take advantage of new political opportunitiesopportunities

avoid high levels of social control by avoid high levels of social control by authorities.authorities.

*Resource Mobilization*Resource Mobilization

Resource mobilizationResource mobilization refers to the refers to the process by which social movements process by which social movements crystallize due to increasing crystallize due to increasing organizational, material, and other organizational, material, and other resources of movement members.resources of movement members.

*Political Opportunities*Political Opportunities

Political opportunities for collective action Political opportunities for collective action and social movement growth occur during and social movement growth occur during election campaigns, when influential allies election campaigns, when influential allies offer insurgents support, when ruling offer insurgents support, when ruling political alignments become unstable, and political alignments become unstable, and when elite groups become divided and when elite groups become divided and conflict with one another.conflict with one another.

*Social Control*Social Control

Social controlSocial control refers to the means by refers to the means by which authorities seek to contain which authorities seek to contain collective action, including co-optation, collective action, including co-optation, concessions, and coercion.concessions, and coercion.

QuestionQuestion

According to solidarity theory, which of the following According to solidarity theory, which of the following factors is not among those that influence collective factors is not among those that influence collective action and the emergence of social movements?action and the emergence of social movements?

a.a. social breakdownsocial breakdown

b.b. resource mobilizationresource mobilization

c.c. political opportunitypolitical opportunity

d.d. social controlsocial control

Answer: aAnswer: a

According to solidarity theory, According to solidarity theory, social social breakdownbreakdown is not among the factors that is not among the factors that influence collective action and the influence collective action and the emergence of social movements.emergence of social movements.

Union DensityUnion Density

The number of union members in a given The number of union members in a given location and time as a percentage of location and time as a percentage of nonfarm workers.nonfarm workers.

It measures the organizational power of It measures the organizational power of unions.unions.

Unionization as % of Nonfarm Workers, Unionization as % of Nonfarm Workers, United States, 1925–2004United States, 1925–2004

Frequency of Strikes withFrequency of Strikes with1000+ Workers1000+ Workers

Unemployment and Unemployment and Frequency of Big Strikes, 1948–2004Frequency of Big Strikes, 1948–2004

*Framing Discontent*Framing Discontent

Frame alignment is the process by which Frame alignment is the process by which social-movement leaders make their social-movement leaders make their activities, ideas, and goals congruent with activities, ideas, and goals congruent with the interests, beliefs, and values of the interests, beliefs, and values of potential new recruits to their movement - potential new recruits to their movement - or fail to do so.or fail to do so.

*Encouraging Frame Alignment*Encouraging Frame Alignment

1.1. Social-movement leaders can reach out to Social-movement leaders can reach out to other organizations that contain people who are other organizations that contain people who are sympathetic to the cause. sympathetic to the cause.

2.2. Movement activists can stress popular values Movement activists can stress popular values that have not been prominent in the thinking of that have not been prominent in the thinking of potential recruits. potential recruits.

3.3. Social movements can stretch their objectives Social movements can stretch their objectives to win recruits who aren’t initially sympathetic to to win recruits who aren’t initially sympathetic to the movement’s aims. the movement’s aims.

*Determinants of Collective Action and *Determinants of Collective Action and Social Movement FormationSocial Movement Formation

*History of Social Movements*History of Social Movements

17001700 - social movements were small, localized, - social movements were small, localized, and violent. and violent.

Mid-20th centuryMid-20th century - social movements were - social movements were large, national, and less violent. large, national, and less violent.

Late 20th centuryLate 20th century - social movements - social movements developed broader goals, recruited highly developed broader goals, recruited highly educated people, and developed global potential educated people, and developed global potential for growth.for growth.

QuestionQuestion

Examples of old and new social movements Examples of old and new social movements are, respectively:are, respectively:

a.a. the labor movement and peasant movementsthe labor movement and peasant movementsb.b. peasant movements and the environmental movementpeasant movements and the environmental movementc.c. the women’s movement and the environmental movementthe women’s movement and the environmental movementd.d. the environmental movement and the women’s movementthe environmental movement and the women’s movement

Answer: bAnswer: b

Examples of old and new social Examples of old and new social movements are, respectively movements are, respectively peasant peasant movements and the environmental movements and the environmental movementmovement..

*Social Movements and *Social Movements and Citizenship RightsCitizenship Rights

The history of social movements is a The history of social movements is a struggle for the citizenship rights including: struggle for the citizenship rights including: civil citizenshipcivil citizenship - the right to free speech, - the right to free speech,

religion, and justice religion, and justice political citizenship - political citizenship - the right to vote and the right to vote and

run for officerun for office social citizenshipsocial citizenship - the right to a certain level - the right to a certain level

of economic security and full participation in of economic security and full participation in the life of society.the life of society.

universal citizenshipuniversal citizenship - the right of marginal - the right of marginal groups to full citizenship and the right of groups to full citizenship and the right of humanity as a whole to peace and security.humanity as a whole to peace and security.



religion, and justice religion, and justice political citizenshippolitical citizenship - - the right to vote and the right to vote and






religion, and justice religion, and justice political citizenship - political citizenship - the right to vote and the right to vote and




Quick QuizQuick Quiz

1. Forms of collective action that are 1. Forms of collective action that are usually nonviolent and follow usually nonviolent and follow established patterns of behavior in established patterns of behavior in bureaucratic social structures are bureaucratic social structures are called:called:a. social movementsa. social movementsb. routineb. routinec. petition drivesc. petition drivesd. lobby formationd. lobby formatione. party formatione. party formation

Answer: bAnswer: b

Forms of collective action that are usually Forms of collective action that are usually nonviolent and follow established patterns nonviolent and follow established patterns of behavior in bureaucratic social of behavior in bureaucratic social structures are called structures are called routineroutine..

2. _________________ occurs when 2. _________________ occurs when people act in unison to bring about or people act in unison to bring about or resist social, political, and economic resist social, political, and economic change.change.

Answer: collective actionAnswer: collective action

1.1. Collective actionCollective action occurs when people occurs when people act in unison to bring about or resist act in unison to bring about or resist social, political, and economic change.social, political, and economic change.

3. A(n) _________________ is an 3. A(n) _________________ is an enduring collective attempt to change all enduring collective attempt to change all or part of the social order.or part of the social order.

Answer: social movementAnswer: social movement

A A social movementsocial movement is an enduring is an enduring collective attempt to change all or part of collective attempt to change all or part of the social order.the social order.

4. According to breakdown theory, collective 4. According to breakdown theory, collective action and social movements result from:action and social movements result from:

a.a. economic deprivationeconomic deprivation

b.b. the irrationality of crowd behaviorthe irrationality of crowd behavior

c.c. instigation on the part of political leadersinstigation on the part of political leaders

d.d. all of these choicesall of these choices

e.e. economic deprivation and the irrationality of economic deprivation and the irrationality of crowd behaviorcrowd behavior

Answer: eAnswer: e

According to breakdown theory, collective According to breakdown theory, collective action and social movements result from action and social movements result from economic deprivation and the economic deprivation and the irrationality of crowd behavior.irrationality of crowd behavior.

5. Frame alignment is the process by 5. Frame alignment is the process by which individual interests, beliefs, and which individual interests, beliefs, and values either become congruent with values either become congruent with the activities, ideas, and goals of the the activities, ideas, and goals of the movement or fail to do so.movement or fail to do so.

a.a. TrueTrue

b.b. FalseFalse

Answer: aAnswer: a

Frame alignment is the process by Frame alignment is the process by which individual interests, beliefs, and which individual interests, beliefs, and values either become congruent with values either become congruent with the activities, ideas, and goals of the the activities, ideas, and goals of the movement or fail to do so.movement or fail to do so.

6. Around 1700 in Europe and North America, 6. Around 1700 in Europe and North America, social movements were typically:social movements were typically:

a.a. large, national in scope, and non-violentlarge, national in scope, and non-violentb.b. large, local in scope, and violentlarge, local in scope, and violentc.c. small, local in scope, and violentsmall, local in scope, and violentd.d. small, local in scope, and non-violentsmall, local in scope, and non-violente.e. small, national in scope, and non-violentsmall, national in scope, and non-violent

Answer: cAnswer: c

Around 1700 in Europe and North Around 1700 in Europe and North America, social movements were America, social movements were typically typically small, local in scope, and small, local in scope, and violent.violent.

chapter 21 collective action and social movements

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