Movement outcomes

Question 1

What are the two dimensions of success for social movements?

Answer 1

1. Organisational fate: whether the movement is accepted as a legitimate representative of its constituency by its antagonists.
2. Beneficiary gains: whether the movement secures new advantages- either tangible or intangible—for its intended beneficiaries.

Question 2

What are the four outcomes combining acceptance and new advantages?

Answer 2

1. Full Response: movement achieves both acceptance and new advantages. Represents complete success.
2. Co-optation: movement gains acceptance but fails to secure new advantages for its beneficiaries. Success in legitimacy without material or substantive benefits.
3. Preemption: movement achieves new advantages without being recognized as a legitimate actor. Benefits are gained without formal acceptance.
4. Collapse: movement achieves neither acceptance nor new advantages. Represents complete failure.

Question 3

What are the criteria for a challenge’s conclusion?

Answer 3

• Formal dissolution: group ceases to exist as an organization
• dormancy for five years: group becomes inactive and ceases mobilization or influence activity
• transition to an interest group: group achieves institutional acceptance, transitioning from a challenger to an established interest group

Question 4

What are some non-material measures of movement success?

Answer 4

• Value changes (e.g., shifts in cultural norms).
• Procedural reforms (e.g., changes in governance processes).
• Expansions or reductions in the scope of authority for a given institution or group.

Question 5

What is the core argument of “The Paradox of Victory”?

Answer 5

Lasting movement success requires realigning the broader social movement field, not just targeting specific authorities.

Question 6

What is a social movement field?

Answer 6

Encompasses all actors influenced by the movement’s actions:
- Protestors: The movement itself.
- Targets: Authorities, institutions, or individuals directly challenged by the movement.
- Opponents: Counter-movements or groups resisting the movement’s goals.
- Neutral Parties: The public, media, and other institutions that shape the broader context.

Question 7

What is the difference between victory and success in social movements?

Answer 7

Victory refers to immediate gains like policy changes, while success involves shifting alignments to ensure stable, lasting impact.

Question 8

What are the risks of polarization in social movements?

Answer 8

It can alienate neutral or allied parties and provoke backlash from powerful opponents.

Question 9

What parallels exist between social movements and revolutions?

Answer 9

Revolutions often achieve immediate victories but fail to establish stable governance without broader systemic alignment