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Chapter 2 - The Sociology of Social Movements
Glossary
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z
A
absolute deprivation theory - The idea that social movements develop when people are unable to obtain adequate food, shelter, or other basic needs.
alternative movements - Social movements that aim to change a single type of behavior.
C
charismatic leader - A type of leader who emotionally inspires others through words and actions by presenting the movement as an essential moral struggle.
coalescence - The second stage of a social movement, in which it becomes more organized and develops resource-gathering capabilities.
conservative movement - A social movement with the goal of maintaining things the way they are.
D
demise - The fifth stage of a social movement, in which it comes to an end because it has achieved its goal, lost popular support, or been repressed.
F
fragmentation - The fourth stage of a social movement, in which it breaks apart, typically after a period of some success, because movement participants disagree about whether essential goals have really been achieved.
framing theory - The idea that a social movement emerges because of framing: the process of describing a social movement in such a way that it makes sense, appeals to as many people as possible, and fulfills one or more deeply held values
I
identity movement - A social movement aimed at creating a new identity for an oppressed group that provides a sense of empowerment, pride, self-confidence, and equality.
incipiency - The first stage of a social movement, which begins when a large number of people become distressed by a particular situation.
innovative (liberal) movement - A social movement that intends to introduce something new with regard to culture, patterns of interaction, policies, or institutions.
institutionalization - The third stage of a social movement, in which the government takes official notice of the movement and tries to cope with it and the movement establishes one or more geographically extensive or even national social movement organizations.
intellectual leader - A type of leader who provides a social movement with ideology explaining the problem, its cause, and the need for action.
L
leadership theory - The idea that the emergence and success of social movements requires exceptional leaders.
M
managerial leader - A type of leader who transforms the ideals and goals of the movement into organization and coordinated action.
multi-factor theory - The idea that a social movement emerges and is shaped by multiple factors including communication, discontent, shared beliefs, dramatic events, movement leadership’s ability to mobilize people, and the response of those in power.
N
new social movements - Social movements that arose during the second half of the twentieth century and are concerned with moral and quality-of-life issues and the establishment of new collective identities.
P
political opportunities theory - The idea that political context is key in explaining social movements and their effects on society.
R
reactionary movement - A social movement that seeks to resurrect cultural elements, patterns of behavior, or institutions of the past.
redemptive movements - Social movements that encourage people to adopt a new moral-religious outlook that will affect a wide range of personal behaviors.
reform movement - A social movement that calls for changes in patterns of behavior, culture, and/or policy, but does not try to replace entire social institutions.
relative deprivation theory - The idea that living conditions or political limitations only become intolerable when people come to view them as unacceptable relative to their conception of the way they think things should be.
resource mobilization theory - The idea that people motivated to create a social movement must have access to necessary resources to succeed.
revival - An additional stage of some social movements that occurs if they re-emerge in the same or a modified form.
revolutionary movement - A social movement that aims to bring about great structural change by replacing one or more major social institutions.
S
social movement - A persistent and organized effort involving the mobilization of large numbers of people to work together to either bring about beneficial social change or resist or reverse harmful social change.
strategy - A general approach for achieving movement goals.
T
tactics - The immediate actions used to implement a strategy.
transnational movements - Social movements active in more than one country.
