From interactions to outcomes in social movements

Abstract

A conclusion to a Vol on social movements reviews explanations of their processes & analyses of their outcomes, arguing that both are important when considering the consequences of social movements. It is maintained that social movements are clusters of performers, not coherent groups, & they do not have self-contained life histories in the same way that individuals & organizations do. A revised definition of social movements is discussed, & it is argued that they exhibit continuous interaction between power holders, participants, the subject population, & other parties that become involved. Social movements as identity-creating structures are examined, along with the distinction between embedded & detached collective identities & the complexities & problems involved in analyzing social movement outcomes. A six-step approach to addressing social movement outcomes that breaks with conventional analyses is described, maintaining that it allows for the possibility that the major effects of social movements are not related to the public claims of their leaders. 1 Figure. J. Lindroth