An approach to dyadic communication in historical social movements: Dyadic communication in Maoist insurgent mobilization

Abstract

The paucity of word‐by‐word transcriptions of movements' dyadic interactions need not completely preclude investigation of historical movements’ dyadic communication. Scholars can study the constraints that urged a movement to select dyadic communication and the general strategies used in movement dyads. Three kinds of data can be used to reconstruct general strategies used in dyads: (1) the theoretical writings of movement leaders that describe particular rhetorical strategies for use in dyads, (2) messages from movement leaders to members directing the adoption of those strategies, and (3) eyewitness accounts of a movement's dyadic activities. The use of this approach to examine the selection and strategies of dyadic communication in Maoist insurgent mobilization demonstrates that the approach can generate worthwhile results.