Block 1: Protest, Agitation, Social Movements & Collective Action
This block covers (1) key distinctions among protest, agitation, collective action; (2) classical foundations (Marx, Weber, Durkheim, Le Bon, Blumer); (3) strain & relative-deprivation theories (Smelser, Gurr, Davies); and (4) resource mobilization (McCarthy & Zald). Block 2 will continue with political process, new social movements, collective action models, revolutions, and Indian movements.
1) Introduction — Protest, Agitation & Collective Action
| Term | Core Meaning | Mechanism | Outcome Focus | Example (UPSC-style) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Protest | Expressed dissent against authority/policy | Marches, strikes, sit-ins, petitions, boycotts | Visibility, pressure, agenda-entry | University fee protests; labour strikes |
| Agitation | Sustained, organized effort to arouse support | Campaigning, speeches, symbolic acts | Mobilization, framing, recruitment | Anti-corruption mobilisation |
| Collective Action | Coordinated action by group to pursue common goals | Coordination, selective incentives, leadership | Overcoming free-rider issues; achieving change | Community sanitation drives; union bargaining |
| Social Movement | Sustained, networked, organized challenge to authority/culture | Mobilization, resources, political opportunities, frames | Policy change + cultural/identity shifts | Environmental, feminist, Dalit movements |
Flow — From Grievance to Movement
Grievance
inequality/violation
inequality/violation
Mobilizing Structures
associations, networks
associations, networks
Framing
diagnosis, prognosis, call-to-action
diagnosis, prognosis, call-to-action
Repertoires
protest, litigation, lobbying
protest, litigation, lobbying
Outcomes
policy, culture, identity
policy, culture, identity
2) Classical Foundations — Marx, Weber, Durkheim, Le Bon, Blumer
2.1 Karl Marx — Class Conflict & Revolutionary Praxis
- Structure: Exploitation in the mode of production generates antagonistic classes (bourgeoisie vs proletariat).
- Process: From class-in-itself (objective position) to class-for-itself (conscious, organized).
- Mechanisms: crises of accumulation, political organization (party), ideology (hegemony vs counter-hegemony).
- Outcome: transformative collective action (revolution/major reforms).
Use in answers: Pair Marx with Gramsci (consent/hegemony) and Althusser (ISAs) to explain why grievances need organization + ideology to become movements.
2.2 Max Weber — Legitimation, Leadership & Repertoires
- Authority Types: traditional, charismatic, legal-rational — movements often arise around charismatic leaders and challenge traditional/legal orders.
- Party/Status/Classes: Movements mobilize across these orders using strategic repertoires (organization, resources, ideas).
- Routinization of Charisma: successful movements institutionalize into parties/unions/NGOs; risks of bureaucratization.
2.3 Emile Durkheim — Collective Effervescence & Solidarity
- Rapid social change → anomie; movements can re-anchor norms/solidarity.
- Ritual gatherings create collective effervescence — affective glue that sustains action.
- Movements re-moralize society by articulating new norms (e.g., rights, equality, environment).
2.4 Crowd Psychology — Le Bon; Symbolic Interaction — Blumer
- Gustave Le Bon: early crowd theory — anonymity, contagion; criticized for determinism but useful for analyzing crowd affect.
- Herbert Blumer: collective behavior as emergent definition of the situation; symbolic interaction builds shared meanings → coordinated action.
| Thinker | Key Idea | Mechanism | What to Write |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marx | Class conflict → movement | Exploitation, organization, ideology | Pair with Gramsci/Althusser for consent |
| Weber | Leadership, legitimacy, repertoires | Charisma → routinization | Explain rise/decline of movements |
| Durkheim | Solidarity & ritual energy | Collective effervescence | Why gatherings matter |
| Le Bon/Blumer | Crowd affect; emergent meaning | Contagion; interactional framing | Micro-foundations of protest |
3) Strain & Relative-Deprivation Theories — Smelser, Gurr, Davies
These approaches foreground grievances and perceived injustice as triggers, but also specify structural conditions that convert discontent into collective episodes.
3.1 Neil Smelser — Value-Added Theory (Structural Strain)
Collective behavior results when six conditions “add value” to each other:
Vertical Flow — Smelser’s Six Determinants
1. Structural Conduciveness
(channels for action)
(channels for action)
2. Structural Strain
(conflict, anomie)
(conflict, anomie)
3. Generalized Belief
(shared diagnosis & target)
(shared diagnosis & target)
4. Precipitating Factors
(spark events)
(spark events)
5. Mobilization
(leaders, resources)
(leaders, resources)
6. Social Control
(police, elite response)
(police, elite response)
- Insight: Authorities’ response (tolerance/repression) shapes escalation or de-escalation.
- Critique: Too episodic; underplays organization and political opportunities.
3.2 Ted Robert Gurr — Relative Deprivation
- Core: Gap between value expectations and value capabilities → anger → violence/protest.
- Types: decremental, aspirational, progressive deprivation.
- Use: explains why discontent rises, but needs how (organization/opportunities) to predict outcomes.
3.3 James C. Davies — J-Curve
- Hypothesis: Revolt occurs when a period of rising expectations is followed by sharp reversal — the J-curve.
- Example logic: liberalization → hopes rise → sudden crisis/shock → frustration → mass protest.
| Theory | What It Explains Well | Limits | Combine With |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smelser | Phasing of protest episodes | Weak on sustained organization | Resource Mobilization; Political Process |
| Gurr | Psychology of grievance/anger | Doesn’t predict success | Mobilization & opportunities |
| Davies | Trigger conditions for revolt | Macro pattern, not micro mechanics | Leadership, networks, state response |
4) Resource Mobilization Theory — McCarthy & Zald
Resource Mobilization (RM) shifts focus from grievances (pervasive) to organizational capacity and resources (scarce): money, time, skills, networks, media access, legitimacy. Movements act like strategic organizations, not mere outbursts.
4.1 Core Propositions
- SMOs & SMIs: Social Movement Organizations operate within broader Social Movement Industries (issue domains).
- Entrepreneurs: leaders as movement entrepreneurs who package issues, recruit, and fundraise.
- Selective Incentives: to overcome free-riding (material, solidary, purposive benefits).
- External Support: patrons, foundations, parties, media can supply crucial resources (“resource flows”).
Flow — How Resources Become Power
Inputs
money, time, skills
money, time, skills
Organization
SMOs, leadership
SMOs, leadership
Repertoires
protest, lobbying, litigation
protest, lobbying, litigation
Alliances
media, NGOs, parties
media, NGOs, parties
Outcomes
policy/culture change
policy/culture change
4.2 Strengths & Critiques
| Strength | Why It Helps | Critique | Answer Strategy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Explains success variance | Grievances are common; resources differ | Can underplay emotions/identity | Add Melucci (identity) & Habermas (public sphere) |
| Organizational realism | SMOs, funding, professionals matter | “Professionalization” may sideline grassroots | Discuss movement–NGO tensions |
| Alliances & networks | Shows role of media, parties, donors | Risk of co-optation | Bring in Selznick (co-optation) & Michels (oligarchy) |
Bridge to Block 2: RM sets the stage for Political Process Theory (opportunity structures, Tilly/McAdam) and New Social Movements (identity, culture, networks). We’ll cover these next with Indian movement cases and UPSC-ready toolkits.
