Boundary organisations for resource mobilisation: enhancing citizens’ involvement in the Dutch energy transition

Abstract

New social movement organisations in the Netherlands, which aim at accelerating the Dutch energy transition through assisting (local) citizens’ initiatives, claim to be part of a new type of environmental movement. Using a conceptual framework that combines resource mobilisation theory with insights from other political and social theories, the characteristics and discourse of six of these organisations are investigated, especially as regards the role of government. As they consider knowledge a critical resource and link (new) knowledge to local action, these are considered to be ‘bottom up’ social movement boundary organisations (SMBOs). How they conceive of their boundary role and to what extent they are prepared to challenge the dominant knowledge framework of the Dutch energy-related institutions are considered. The institutional barriers and collective action dilemmas they face, and how these might be overcome, are discussed.