Resource Mobilization, Hardship, and Popular Collective Action in the West Bank

Abstract

Though empirical support for resource mobilization explanations of collective action in the U.S. is strong, it is still uncertain whether the theory offers adequate explanations for collective action in nonaffluent or crisis-ridden settings. This article examines whether collective action increases as a function of increased hardship or improved political opportunities and/or economic resources for mobilization in the West Bank context. This question is evaluated by parametric statistical models and event history data on collective political events that occurred in the area over the 1976-85 period. The analysis reveals that resource mobilization explanations were far superior in explaining collective action in the present case than the deprivation account. However, contrary to expectations, direct repression increased the rate of Palestinian collective action while state vulnerability decreased it during the period examined. 7he findings also indicate