Introductory Sociology: Social Change and Collective Behavior Social - Movements Types Resource Mobilization Political Process Framing New Social Movements

Resource Mobilization Theory

What It Is Resource Mobilization Theory (RMT) explains how social movements succeed by mobilizing resources such as money, people, and media. For example, the Civil Rights Movement in the United States effectively mobilized resources to organize protests, boycotts, and lawsuits. Sociologists care about RMT because it helps us understand how social movements achieve their goals.

Must-Know Facts

• Key Theorist: Mayer Zald and Roberta Ash developed RMT in the 1960s.
• Core Idea: Social movements succeed by mobilizing resources to achieve their goals.
• Important Definition: Resource Mobilization refers to the process of gathering and allocating resources to support a social movement.
• Empirical Finding: Studies have shown that social movements with more resources are more likely to achieve their goals (e.g., the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa).
• Classic Study: Zald and Ash's study of the Civil Rights Movement in the United States is a classic example of RMT in action.
• Distinction: RMT differs from Political Process Theory in that it focuses on the mobilization of resources rather than the political opportunities available to social movements.
• Key Concept: Opportunity Structure refers to the political and social context in which a social movement operates.
• Important Theorist: Charles Tilly's work on collective action frames is related to RMT.
• Empirical Finding: Research has shown that social movements with strong frames (i.e., clear and compelling narratives) are more likely to mobilize resources and achieve their goals.
• Classic Study: The study of the women's suffrage movement in the United States is an example of how a strong frame can mobilize resources and achieve a social movement's goals.
• Key Concept: Social Movement Organization (SMO) refers to a formal organization that supports a social movement.
• Important Theorist: Doug McAdam's work on SMOs is related to RMT.
• Empirical Finding: Research has shown that SMOs can play a crucial role in mobilizing resources and achieving the goals of a social movement.
• Classic Study: The study of the anti-war movement in the United States during the Vietnam War is an example of how SMOs can mobilize resources and achieve a social movement's goals.

Common Misunderstandings

• Misunderstanding: Resource Mobilization Theory only applies to large-scale social movements.
• Correction: RMT can be applied to social movements of all sizes, from small local movements to large national movements.
• Misunderstanding: Resource Mobilization Theory ignores the role of ideology in social movements.
• Correction: RMT recognizes the importance of ideology in shaping the goals and strategies of social movements, but it focuses on the mobilization of resources as a key factor in achieving those goals.
• Misunderstanding: Resource Mobilization Theory is only concerned with the internal dynamics of social movements.
• Correction: RMT also considers the external context in which social movements operate, including the opportunity structure and the responses of opponents.

Practice Questions

1. Question: Which of the following is a key concept in Resource Mobilization Theory? A) Frame B) Opportunity Structure C) Social Movement Organization D) Resource Mobilization

Answer: D) Resource Mobilization Why correct: Resource Mobilization is the core concept of RMT.

1. Question: Which of the following is a classic study of Resource Mobilization Theory? A) The study of the women's suffrage movement in the United States B) The study of the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa C) The study of the Civil Rights Movement in the United States D) The study of the anti-war movement in the United States during the Vietnam War

Answer: C) The study of the Civil Rights Movement in the United States Why correct: Zald and Ash's study of the Civil Rights Movement is a classic example of RMT in action.

1. Question: Which of the following is a key theorist associated with Resource Mobilization Theory? A) Charles Tilly B) Doug McAdam C) Mayer Zald and Roberta Ash D) Herbert Blumer

Answer: C) Mayer Zald and Roberta Ash Why correct: Zald and Ash developed RMT in the 1960s.

1. Question: Which of the following is a key concept related to Resource Mobilization Theory? A) Social Movement Organization B) Opportunity Structure C) Frame D) All of the above

Answer: D) All of the above Why correct: SMOs, opportunity structure, and frames are all related to RMT.

1. Question: Which of the following is an empirical finding associated with Resource Mobilization Theory? A) Social movements with more resources are more likely to achieve their goals. B) Social movements with strong frames are more likely to mobilize resources and achieve their goals. C) Social movements with weak SMOs are more likely to achieve their goals. D) Social movements with few resources are more likely to achieve their goals.

Answer: A) Social movements with more resources are more likely to achieve their goals. Why correct: Research has shown that social movements with more resources are more likely to achieve their goals.

Quick Revision

• Resource Mobilization Theory was developed by Mayer Zald and Roberta Ash in the 1960s.
• RMT focuses on the mobilization of resources to achieve social movement goals.
• Resource Mobilization refers to the process of gathering and allocating resources to support a social movement.
• Opportunity Structure refers to the political and social context in which a social movement operates.
• Social Movement Organization (SMO) refers to a formal organization that supports a social movement.
• Doug McAdam's work on SMOs is related to RMT.
• Charles Tilly's work on collective action frames is related to RMT.
• The study of the Civil Rights Movement in the United States is a classic example of RMT in action.
• Research has shown that social movements with more resources are more likely to achieve their goals.
• RMT differs from Political Process Theory in that it focuses on the mobilization of resources rather than the political opportunities available to social movements.