Chapter 15: Collective Action and Social Movements Melanie Hatfield Soc 100

Collective Action When people act in unison to bring about or resist social, political, and economic change. When people act in unison to bring about or resist social, political, and economic change. Routine Routine Nonroutine Nonroutine

Routine collective actions follow established patterns of behavior in existing social structures. Routine collective actions follow established patterns of behavior in existing social structures.

Nonroutine collective actions take place when usual conventions cease to guide social action and people bypass established structures. Nonroutine collective actions take place when usual conventions cease to guide social action and people bypass established structures.

Breakdown Theory of Nonroutine Collective Action Three Factors: A group of people must be economically deprived or socially rootless. A group of people must be economically 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 getting caught up in the madness of crowds. They must lose the capacity to act rationally by getting caught up in the madness of crowds.

Most pre-1970 sociologists would have said that Neal’s lynching was caused by one or more of the following factors: Most pre-1970 sociologists would have said that Neal’s lynching was caused by one or more of the following factors: Deprivation Deprivation Contagion Contagion Strain Strain

Deprivation Research shows that no clear association between fluctuations in economic well-being and the number of lynchings that took place each year between the 1880s and the 1930s. Research shows that no clear association between fluctuations in economic well-being and the number of lynchings that took place each year between the 1880s and the 1930s. In the case of the Neal lynching, the main instigators were especially not economically deprived, nor were the socially marginal individuals. In the case of the Neal lynching, the main instigators were especially not economically deprived, nor were the socially marginal individuals. In most cases of collective action, leaders and early joiners are well-integrated members of the communities, not outsiders. In most cases of collective action, leaders and early joiners are well-integrated members of the communities, not outsiders. Levels of deprivation are not commonly associated with the frequency or intensity of outbursts of collective action. Levels of deprivation are not commonly associated with the frequency or intensity of outbursts of collective action.

Contagion Despite its barbarity, the Neal lynching was not a spontaneous and unorganized affair. Despite its barbarity, the Neal lynching was not a spontaneous and unorganized affair. Sophisticated planning went into the Brewton jail raid. Sophisticated planning went into the Brewton jail raid. Nonroutine collective action is structured by: Nonroutine collective action is structured by: ideas and norms that emerge in the crowd itself. ideas and norms that emerge in the crowd itself. the predispositions that unite crowd members and predate their collective action. the predispositions that unite crowd members and predate their collective action. the degree to which different types of participants adhere to emergent and preexisting norms. the degree to which different types of participants adhere to emergent and preexisting norms. preexisting social relationships among participants structure nonroutine collective action. preexisting social relationships among participants structure nonroutine collective action.

Strain Lynching had deeper roots than the apparent violation of norms governing black-white relations. Lynching had deeper roots than the apparent violation of norms governing black-white relations. Significantly, it was a means by which black farm workers were disciplined and kept tied to the southern cotton industry after the abolition of slavery threatened to disrupt the industry’s traditional, captive labor supply. Significantly, it was a means by which black farm workers were disciplined and kept tied to the southern cotton industry after the abolition of slavery threatened to disrupt the industry’s traditional, captive labor supply.

Frequency of Lynching, US,

Social Movements According to breakdown theory, people usually rebel soon after social breakdown occurs. According to breakdown theory, people usually rebel soon after social breakdown occurs. In reality, however, people often find it difficult to turn their discontent into an enduring social movement. In reality, however, people often find it difficult to turn their discontent into an enduring social movement.

Solidarity Theory Research conducted since 1970 shows that social breakdown often does not have the expected short- term effect. Research conducted since 1970 shows that social breakdown often does not have the expected short- term effect. There are several social-structural factors that modify the effects of social breakdown on collective action. There are several social-structural factors that modify the effects of social breakdown on collective action. Three other variables are associated with episodes of collective action: Three other variables are associated with episodes of collective action: Resource Mobilization Resource Mobilization Political Opportunities Political Opportunities Social Control Social Control

Unions and Collective Action Workers have traditionally used three methods of collective action to advance their interests: unions, political parties, and strikes. Workers have traditionally used three methods of collective action to advance their interests: unions, political parties, and strikes. Unions enable groups of workers to speak with one voice and thus bargain more effectively with their employers for better wages, working conditions, and benefits. Unions enable groups of workers to speak with one voice and thus bargain more effectively with their employers for better wages, working conditions, and benefits. The union movement brought us many things we take for grated today, such as the eight-hour work day, two- day weekends, health insurance, and pensions. The union movement brought us many things we take for grated today, such as the eight-hour work day, two- day weekends, health insurance, and pensions.

Strikes and Resource Mobilization The post-1945 drop in union density is partly a result of changes in America’s occupational structure. The post-1945 drop in union density is partly a result of changes in America’s occupational structure. The industrial working class (where unionism is strongest) has shrunk and therefore become weaker. The industrial working class (where unionism is strongest) has shrunk and therefore become weaker. In addition, beginning in the 1970s, many American employers began to contest unionization elections legally. In addition, beginning in the 1970s, many American employers began to contest unionization elections legally. They also hired consulting firms in anti-union “information” campaigns aimed at keeping their workplaces union-free. They also hired consulting firms in anti-union “information” campaigns aimed at keeping their workplaces union-free. Thus, a decline in organizational resources available to industrial workers was matched by an increase in anti-union resources mobilized by employers. Thus, a decline in organizational resources available to industrial workers was matched by an increase in anti-union resources mobilized by employers.

Strikes and Political Opportunities In 1947 Congress passed the Taft-Hartley Act, which meant unions were no longer allowed to force employees to become members or to require union membership as a condition for being hired, and also allowed employers to replace striking workers. In 1947 Congress passed the Taft-Hartley Act, which meant unions were no longer allowed to force employees to become members or to require union membership as a condition for being hired, and also allowed employers to replace striking workers. Unions thus became less effective – and therefore less popular – as ways of achieving workers’ aims. Unions thus became less effective – and therefore less popular – as ways of achieving workers’ aims. Taft-Hartley remains the basic framework for industrial relations in the US. Taft-Hartley remains the basic framework for industrial relations in the US. Less social organization typically mans less protest. Less social organization typically mans less protest.

Frequency of Strikes with 1,000+ Workers, US

Unemployment and the Frequency of Strikes with 1,000+ Workers, US

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

Encouraging Frame Alignment 1. Social-movement leaders reach out to organizations that contain people who are sympathetic to the cause. 2. Movement activists stress popular values that have not been prominent in the thinking of potential recruits. 3. Social movements can stretch their objectives to win recruits who aren’t initially sympathetic to their aims.

Determinants of Collective Action and Social-Movement Formation

Goals of New Social Movements Some new social movements provide not the rights of specific groups, but of humanity as a whole to peace, security, and a clean environment. Some new social movements provide not the rights of specific groups, but of humanity as a whole to peace, security, and a clean environment. The peace movement, the environmental movement, and the human rights movement. The peace movement, the environmental movement, and the human rights movement. Other new social movements promote the rights of particular groups that have been excluded from full social participation. Other new social movements promote the rights of particular groups that have been excluded from full social participation. The women’s rights movement and the gay rights movement, The women’s rights movement and the gay rights movement, The emergence of the peace, environmental, human rights, gay rights, and women’s movements involves the extension of citizenship rights to all adult members of society and to society as a whole. The emergence of the peace, environmental, human rights, gay rights, and women’s movements involves the extension of citizenship rights to all adult members of society and to society as a whole.

Globalization Potential of New Social Movements New social movements increased the scope of protest beyond the national level. New social movements increased the scope of protest beyond the national level. For example, members of the peace and environmental movements pressed for international agreements binding all countries to protect the environment and stop the spread of nuclear weapons. For example, members of the peace and environmental movements pressed for international agreements binding all countries to protect the environment and stop the spread of nuclear weapons. Social movements went global. Social movements went global. Greenpeace Greenpeace