The Power of the Powerless Resource Mobilization and Social Movements in a Third World Reality

Abstract

The field of social movements has brought unique insights to the study of order and change in society. Essentially, the concern of social movements theorists is with studying the disruptive capabilities of the ruled. Resource mobilization has emerged as the popular, if not also dominant perspective, in a field rife with theoretical debates. The resource mobilization perspective is, however, far from adequate in explaining social movements particularly in the third world countries. This article identifies five major limitations of this perspective. Prominent among these is the failure to consider movements as power entities. A concrete case of a third world labor movement is used to highlight these limitations and to suggest the need for the adaptation of a “power perspective.”