Deprivation and resource theories Flashcards
What is the core concept of resource mobilization?
- It focuses on the necessity of resources like money and professional capacities for sustaining social movements over time.
- Unlike deprivation-focused theories, this perspective highlights organizational strategies, external support, and resource aggregation over grievances and collective beliefs.
- Highlights external political opportunities that influence collective action, including:
*Type of government (e.g., democracy vs. autocracy).
*State strength or vulnerability (weakened states are more susceptible to challenges).
*Division among elites (facilitates protest when elites are divided).
What are the main assumptions of the traditional (deprivation and belief-based) perspective?
- Movements arise due to grievances and deprivation combined with shared beliefs or ideologies.
- Psychological states of collective discontent are central to mobilization.
What is a key critique of the traditional perspective?
not all movements start as a result of a feeling of relative deprivation
What are key focus areas of the resource mobilization approach?
Mobilizing resources like labor and funds, forming external connections, and strategically manipulating grievances.
What is a counter-movement?
A movement that directly opposes the demands/stance of another social movement
What are the 3 types of constituents?
- Mass Constituents: Limited resource pools, including time and labor.
- Elite Constituents: Larger resource pools.
- Conscience constituents: Ethically-driven supporters who do not benefit directly from movement success. (Northern white liberals supporting civil rights for Southern African Americans)
Who are cadres and constituents in a social movement?
Cadre: Decision-makers within the organization (professional or volunteer)
Constituent: Provide resources like money or labor.
What are federated and non-federated SMOs?
- federated: Local chapters bound by interpersonal ties
- non-federated: Social movements relying on direct connections with isolated constituents (e.g., direct-mail fundraising movements)
What is product differentiation in Social movements?
Goals and strategies are tailored to appeal to specific constituencies.
Why is advertising essential for Social movements?
- Essential for reaching isolated constituents who lack face-to-face engagement.
- Strategies include media events, direct-mail campaigns, and endorsement by celebrities or influential figures.
Why do Social movements compete?
compete for scarce resources (e.g., donations, attention) within the same SMI or across overlapping SMIs.
What is a social movement industry?
All social movements sharing similar goals within a society.
What is the idea of crisis convergence?
Refers to the convergence of racial violence, health crises (COVID-19), and economic shocks in 2020 –> triple crisis
What is absolute deprivation?
- Refers to basic needs like food, shelter, and security not being met.
- Groups experiencing this deprivation are thought to have the most to gain and least to lose through protest.
What is relative deprivation?
- Refers to perceptions of inequality when comparing one’s position to others, fueling grievances about political, economic, or cultural disadvantages.
- Indicators include poverty, unemployment, and grievances related to breaches of agreements or systemic neglect.
How are resource mobilisation theory and relative deprivation related? Wilkes
- Findings suggest deprivation and resource mobilization theories are complementary, rather than contradictory.
- Deprivation generates grievances necessary for mobilization, but resources enable action
- Groups must be “disadvantaged enough to be dissatisfied” but “resource-rich enough to mobilize.”
