Social sciences and social movements: the theoretical context

Abstract

This manuscript situates the papers of this special issue within the broader context of social movement research. It discusses the historical and theoretical significance of the four main perspectives in the field of social movement, namely the collective behaviour paradigm, the resource mobilisation approach, the political opportunity model and the cultural turn in social movement studies. Each of these perspectives has highlighted the importance of different units and levels of analysis pertaining to the study of social movements, including the role of grievances, organisational and political structures and meanings associated with participation. As a result, the field is highly receptive to multidisciplinary dialogue and to relations of mutual influences among different disciplines. The next step in social movement studies consists in the elaboration of a coherent framework of research which links the different levels of analysis and dimensions.

Keywords:

• social protest
• social movement
• multidisciplinary
• social sciences

Acknowledgements

The author wishes to thank Professor David Canter for his suggestions during the preparation of this special issue and of this article and Ruth Lamont and Abigail Player for their comments on this article. Finally, the author would like to thank Professor Dominic Abrams and Dr Georgina Randsley de Moura for their guidance and support.

Notes on contributor

Giovanni A. Travaglino is Associate Lecturer at the School of Psychology, University of Kent and a PhD candidate at Centre for the Study of Group Processes (University of Kent). His research interests include the social psychology of leadership and deviance, collective actions, organised crime and the epistemology of psychology. He is Editor-in-chief of Contention: The Multidisciplinary Journal of Social Protest and founder of the Interdisciplinary Network for Social Protest Research (INSPR).