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| t h e o n l i n e g a r d e n o f j e f f l a r s o n | ||
How do social movement activists decide which tactics to use? At first glance, they appear to choose the most effective tactics for each situation they encounter. But how do they learn which are the most effective, and why do they sometimes stick with tactics that consistently fail? Processes of mimicry, identity formation, and balancing the often competing concerns of multiple audiences (constituents, opponents, authorities, donors, the public) are all likely factors in shaping the decisions of activists. Questions like these are keeping me busy and entertained lately. | ||
October 2011 BALTIMORE, Maryland—"If frustration or deprivation were sufficient to cause a social movement," remarked Jeff Larson while waiting for the bus, "this city would rise up against the MTA for wasting years of our lives!" Mr. Larson, whose 6-mile commute averages more than an hour, says that when the rebellion begins he'll be at the head of the march.
Social & Political Change (coming soon) |
[In progress] Social Movements, Strategic Logics, and the Adoption of Issues, Tactics, and Targets Why Change? Organizational Adaptation and Stability in a Social Movement Field (Ph.D. Dissertation) Sector Level Dynamics and Collective Action in the United States, 1965-1975, Mobilization, 2009 (w/Soule) Generations, Identities, and the Collective Memory of Che Guevara, Sociological Forum, 2007 (w/Lizardo) Structural Embeddedness and the Liability of Newness among Nonprofit Organizations, Public Management Review, 2004 (w/Hagar and Galaskiewicz)
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Dept. of Sociology, Anthropology, and Criminal Justice, Towson University, 8000 York Rd., Towson, MD 21252 (410) 704-2852 Email: pigonthestairs@gmail.com | ||