Resource Mobilization Theory (RMT)
Resource Mobilization Theory (RMT) plays a vital role in analyzing how social movements mobilize and deploy resources to actualize their goals. The theory aims at providing a framework for analyzing how social movements are able to overcome prevailing patterns of resource inequality in their efforts to pursue social change (Edwards and McCarthy: 118). This theory has been used to analyze different social movements in history. Edwards (2007) writes that Resource Mobilization Theory can be used to describe how social movements turn bystanders into adherents and subsequently adherents into constituents. In this case, adherents are the individuals who share the social movement organization vision of social change. Constituents on the other hand are those who contribute resources of various kinds to help the movement mobilize. Bystanders are those who watch from the sidelines.
This theory has attracted a lot of contributions from different scholars such as Jo Freeman, Charles Tilly, John McCarthy, Mayer Zald and Bob Edwards amongst many more others. For the sake of this paper, Bob Edwards and John McCarthy’s framework which is documented in their work “Resources and Social Movement Mobilization (2004)”will be used.
Their framework encompasses an analysis of resource inequality among social movements, resource redistribution, typologies of resources, key resource attributes, sources of resources and finally resource mobilization processes.
Resource Inequality
The first aspect of their framework entails resource inequality where they argue that social movements have unequal access to resources. They posit three reasons why this happens. They are due to spatial variations, historical variations and ...
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...ermining whether a SMO depends on beneficiary or conscience constituents, or between internal and external sources.
Mobilizing activism is also a key activity in the mobilization process. There two types of mobilization: consensus mobilization and action mobilization. Consensus mobilization refers to the process of turning bystanders and opponents into adherents while action mobilization refers to the process or turning constituents into all kinds of adherents.
The last strategy that SMOs use to mobilize resources is through the use of collaborative actions. These happens when they organize events that are geared towards attracting more resources for the SMO by aggregating the human and financial resources available to the SMO. Examples of such events include popular runs and walks where participants contribute money and generate a greater commitment to a cause.
Existing within the movement must be a leader or leaders, as well as a large number of committed followers or members. Additionally, social movements have “organizations or coalitions” working as a guiding backbone for collectivity and regulation (Stewart,
Chenoweth, Erica, and Maria J. Stephan. 2011. Why Civil Resistance Works : The Strategic Logic of
Polletta, Francesca and James Jasper. “Collective Identity and Social Movements.” Annual Review of Sociology 27.1 (2001): 283–305. Print.
Filene makes the bold yet practical statement that, in reference to the progressive movement, when “research has produced less rather than more conclusions…historians are asking a false question.” His main goal thus is to prove that the progressive movement itself “never existed.” He begins his argument by defining the word “movement” as “a collectivity acting with some continuity to promote or resist a change in society.” By creating this fundamental framework Filene then breaks down the progressive movement into four basic dimensions: program, values, membership, and supporters. He first attacks the basic progressive ideology.
Globalization, the term used to describe the dominant framework of international relations following the cold war, is affecting many aspects of politics and social experience. This is seen in the Zapatista rebellion and movement in Chiapas, Mexico that has benefited from globalization and transnational support. This paper examines the relationship of transnationalism and social movements with the Zapatistas as a case study. In particular, this paper argues that the Zapatistas are part of the anti-globalization cycle of protest. As a result, they have used the master frame of this cycle of protest and aligned that frame in light of their particular situation. Because this frame was resonant with transnational activists a network of support was formed, which pressures the government from above, increasing the chances of success of a movement. The paper concludes by examining the implications of the Zapatistas for social movement research, with particular regard for Tarrow’s “strong thesis” about movements in a transnational era
Social inequality is characterized by the existence of unequal opportunity for various social positions or statuses within a given group or society. It is a phenomenon that has a long history as social inequalities has a wide range of varieties. From economic, gender, racial, status, and prestige, social inequality is a topic often disputed by classical theorists. Sociologists Karl Marx, Max Weber, W.I. Thomas, and Frederic M. Thrasher have formed varying thoughts on this recurring phenomenon. Marx believed that social inequality synthesized through conflicts within classes and in modern society those two classes were the bourgeoisie and the proletariat. In contrast, Weber disputes Marx’s simplistic view of the conflict and theorizes that social
Part one, The Appeal of Mass Movements, describes why people would be drawn towards a mass movement. "For men to plunge headlong into an undertaking of vast change, they must be intensely discontented yet not destitute, and they must have the feeling that by the possession of some potent doctrine." (Page 11) During this chapter the author uses a wealth of historical information including the French Revolution and the English Industrial Revolution. The author also details what conditions are most suited for a mass movement to take place. He tells that when people are ready for mass movement, they will usually go for any type.
Various theorists under the umbrella of critical social theory believe that all subordinate groups are oppressed on personal, cultural and institutional levels by visible and invisible structures as well as by conscious and unconscious means. (Mullaly, 2010 ).
Social inequality is a situation in which you can find differences between individual groups in a society from the perspective of their social groups, social clubs or social status. In some parts of the world, there are different social groups that have the same property rights, voting rights, freedom of expression, health and education. Research shows that inequalities persist ...
Polletta, F., & Jasper, J. M. (2001). Collective identity and social movements. Annual review of Sociology, 283-305.
(Turner and Killian 1987) cited in (Diani 1992, p. 4) define social movements as a “collectivity acting with some continuity to promote or resist a change in the society or organisation of which it is part. As a collectivity a movement is a group with indefinite and shifting membership and with leadership whose position is determined more by informal response of adherents than by formal procedures for legitimizing authority”. Turner and Killian regard a social movement as a peculiar kind of collective behavior that is contrasted to regularity and institutional behavior. Additionally, Turner believes that social movements do not necessarily coincide with movement organisations, although these organisations can carry out a large part of the movement tasks and it is often help to control and speak for movements (Diani 1992).
Social inequality refers to inter-relational processes in our society that has an adverse effect on limiting or harming a specific group’s social status, social class, and social circle. The way in which people behave, socially, through racist or sexist practices and other forms of discrimination, at the grass roots, gets down to affect the opportunities of the minorities, that the wealthy individuals can generate for on their own. This can be seen in almost all the levels of economy, ranging from state to the global economy.
The resources I am referring to here are those that are needed for a person to escape poverty and earn a higher income. This includes merit and public goods that individuals with higher incomes can afford and indulge themselves in while people with lower incomes or suffering from poverty depend on some endowment from the state, such as healthcare, education, and access to employment opportunities and professional networks. It is important to a society that we take care of these market failures to not only help decrease income inequality...
Paul Hawken, in the chapter “Blessed Unrest,” records the people of a new social movement, as well as their ideals, goals, and principles. He writes how they are connected, along with the diversity and differences they bring to make the social movement unique. Hawken communicates to the readers the various social, environmental, and political problems they will encounter in today’s world as well as similar problems of the past. Problems that these groups of organizations are planning to undertake with the perseverance of humanity.
Researchers classify social movements according to the type of change they seek (Aberle, 1966, Cameron, 1966, Blumer, 1969, as cited in Macionis, 2007). According to John Macionis, a social movement is when people commonly band together to create an organized activity that encourages or discourages social change (Macionis, 2008). In the case of this radical society, Hippies were typically ...