Political Generations, Micro-Cohorts, and the Transformation of Social Movements

Abstract

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Social Conflict and Social Protest

“…But the composition of a movement may change -for instance from self-help groups around battered women to radical feminist-ideology groups -and, as a consequence, people may feel less akin to the others in the movement (Whittier, 1997). Schisms are another reason why movements fail to satisfy identity motives.…”

The First Time is the Hardest? A Cross-National and Cross-Issue Comparison of First-Time Protest Participants

“…New blood is not only important to keep up the movements' numbers. Whittier (1997) found that, among others things, the external context of the movement at the time of entry of new participants defines a 'generation' of activists. These generations then subsequently contribute 'to produce change in social movements' and 'alter the movement's direction' (Whittier 1997, p. 761).…”

Institutional analysis as a promising direction for the evaluation of social movements (an analytical overview)

“…Give the shortage of space, two observations need to be made in order to assist the reader. The operational definition of social movements with which we shall work here is composed out of elements seen to recur in the concepts of the main authors on the subject (Tarrow 1998;Tilly1999;Amenta 2006;Guigni 1999 andWhittier 1997) 4 . That definition is: a social movement is a series of collective contentious performances extending over time through which groups and networks of people under a shared frame challenge the authorities and stake claims in the name of a broader public.…”