Social Movement Theories and Alternative Media: An Evaluation and Critique

Abstract

The urgent need for a dialogue about concepts Social movements matter the constructive ones, the dangerous ones, and the confused ones. Their study has taken on considerable life over the past 20–25 years, beginning with the ‘‘resource mobilization/rational actor’’ and the ‘‘New Social Movements’’ schools, and continuing on with the current ‘‘Contentious Politics’’ network, along with studies of solidarity movements (Giugni & Passy, 2001), social networks and movements (Diani & McAdam, 2003), and transnational social movements (Keck & Sikkink, 1998). The journals Social Movement Studies and Mobilization are significant though not exclusive fora for debate on these issues. The global social justice movement and religious revival movements have been two major contemporary spurs to these analyses.