Mass Appeal: Collective Behavior and Social Movements
Social movements are not static. They generally go through cycles driven by both external events and internal factors. One of the ways movements change is in their level of activity. Other changes may include the targets on which to focus, as well...
Mass Appeal: Collective Behavior and Social Movements
The emergence of a social movement often marks the culmination of years of struggle. But as challenging as launching a movement may be, creating an organizational framework that allows that movement to endure can be just as daunting.
Mass Appeal: Collective Behavior and Social Movements
The emotion that ignites a social movement can be based on any number of things, including grievances, anger, hope or rising expectations.
Mass Appeal: Collective Behavior and Social Movements
The ANSWER Coalition is a national organization with offices in major cities throughout the United States. ANSWER is an acronym that stands for "Act Now to Stop War and End Racism." Along with its opposition to U.S. policy in the Middle East, the ...
Mass Appeal: Collective Behavior and Social Movements
It's relatively easy to reel off a litany of well-known social movements, from civil rights to anti-war to the women's movement. Trying to pin down what actually constitutes a social movement can be a bit more challenging.
Mass Appeal: Collective Behavior and Social Movements
Ultimately, judgments about a social movement are based on whether or not it was a success or failure. But defining success is not easy.
Mass Appeal: Collective Behavior and Social Movements
Most movements are populated by both moderates and militants. The role each plays, and the relationship between them, can be quite complex.
Mass Appeal: Collective Behavior and Social Movements
There are a number of elements that normally must be present for a social movement to emerge. One of the most fundamental is known as collective identity. This is the feeling of being part of a group dedicated to achieving common goals that leads p...