Economic explanations of collective action (16.10)

The lecture shall provide an introduction into the economic roots of collective action. First, it aims at reviewing the classic economic accounts of civic collective action (Moore, Piven & Cloward, Olson, McCarthy, Zald). Second, it reviews how these are incorporated within the contemporary mainstream collective action research, especially resource mobilization perspective (McCarthy, Zald, Tilly, Tarrow). The lecture further aims at demonstrating the economic aspects of contemporary collective action and political protest.

Required readings:

Olson, M. 1993. The Logic of Collective Action. Pp. 23-37 in J. Richardson (ed.) Pressure Groups. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Edwards, B. McCarthy, J. 2004. “Resources and Social Movement Mobilization.” In The Blackwell Companion to Social Movements, eds. David Snow, Sarah Soule a Hanspeter Kriesi. Malden, Oxford, Carlton: Blackwell Publishing, 116-152.