Civil Society and Social

Movements
Comparative Government and Politics 14-319
 PRESENTATION OUTLINE

• Defining Civil Society and Social Movements

• Theoretical Approaches
• The Comparative Analysis of Social Movements
• Emergence, Mobilization, and Success of Social
Movements

Comparative Government and Politics 14-319

 CIVIL SOCIETY AND SOCIAL MOVEMENTS

Comparative Government and Politics 14-319

 WHAT IS CIVIL SOCIETY ?

All non-governmental groups, associations, and institutions that citizens form and join such as
religious organizations, professional associations, charitable groups, and interest groups.

Comparative Government and Politics 14-319

 WHAT IS SOCIAL MOVEMENT ?

A group of people involved in a conflict with

clearly identified opponents, sharing a common
identity, a unifying belief, or a common program,
and acting collectively.

The concept of social movement includes at least

three component elements:

1. A group of people with conflictual orientation

towards an opponent.
2. A collective identity and a set of common
beliefs and goals.
3. A repertoire of collective actions.

Comparative Government and Politics 14-319

 THEORETICAL APPROACHES

CLASSICAL MODEL

RESOURCE MOBILIZATION MODEL

POLITICAL PROCESS MODEL

Comparative Government and Politics 14-319

 THEORETICAL APPROACHES

RESOURCE MOBILIZATION MODEL POLITICAL PROCESS MODEL

CLASSICAL MODEL

The classical model of social movements proposes that social movements come about as a collective
response to structural weaknesses in society that have a psychological effect on individuals.

Comparative Government and Politics 14-319

 THEORETICAL APPROACHES

CLASSICAL MODEL POLITICAL PROCESS MODEL

RESOURCE MOBILIZATION MODEL

Resource-mobilization theory recognizes the importance of political context and goals to the
development of social movements but also emphasizes that social movements are unlikely to emerge
without the necessary resources.

Comparative Government and Politics 14-319

 THEORETICAL APPROACHES

CLASSICAL MODEL RESOURCE MOBILIZATION MODEL

POLITICAL PROCESS MODEL

The political process model of social movements proposes that a social movement’s chances of
developing are heavily influenced by three sets of conditions:

• expanding political opportunities

• indigenous organizational strength
• certain shared cognitions among the movement’s proponents

Comparative Government and Politics 14-319

 THE COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF
SOCIAL MOVEMENTS

POLITICAL CONFIGURATION INTERACTION

OPPORTUNITY OF POWER CONTEXT
STRUCTURE

Comparative Government and Politics 14-319

 THE COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF SOCIAL MOVEMENTS

POLITICAL OPPORTUNITY STRUCTURE

Political opportunity structures influence the choice

of protest strategies and the impact of social
movements on their environment.

Comparative Government and Politics 14-319

 THE COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF SOCIAL MOVEMENTS

CONFIGURATION OF POWER

Protagonist Antagonist Bystanders

-the configuration of
allies (policy-makers,
public authorities,
political parties, interest
groups, the media, and
related movements)
-the configuration of -the not directly
adversaries (public involved, but
authorities, repressive nevertheless attentive
agents, counter- audience
movements)

Three major components

Comparative Government and Politics 14-319

 THE COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF SOCIAL MOVEMENTS

INTERACTION CONTEXT

This is the level of the mechanisms linking structures and

configurations to agency and action, and it is at this level that
the strategies of the social movements and their opponents
come into view.

Comparative Government and Politics 14-319

 THREE ASPECTS OF SOCIAL MOVEMENTS

Emergence Mobilization Success

Comparative Government and Politics 14-319

 THREE ASPECTS OF SOCIAL MOVEMENTS

Emergence
The social problem being addressed is first identified.

Mobilization
Resources are mobilized, and concrete action is taken to address the problem.

Success
Social movements do not only intend to successfully mobilize. Ultimately, they want to
have an impact on political decision-making or on society at large.

Comparative Government and Politics 14-319

Civil Society and Social
Movements
Comparative Government and Politics 14-319