GLCb1014 Social Movements: Multidisciplinary Approach
Lecture 2: Mobilizing grievances


The relationship between mobilization and grievances
•Grievances/problems have to become mobilizing grievances/problems to trigger collective action
•Ubiquitous injustices and problems? (theory of New Social Movements)
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Grievance/dissatisfaction
•Everyday/individual vs. Mobilizing/collective
•There is no automatic relationship between material deprivation and mobilizing injustices
•Wrongs/dissatisfaction is not primarily a psychological condition, it is not about crossing
"objective" boundaries of tolerance
•Mobilizing injustices are shaped through interpretive processes, they are socially constructed

Which grievances/problems?
•Structural/material conditions
1.Group conflicts/inequalities - Marx et al.
2.Social pressures/tensions/disintegration - Durkheim et al.
•2.1 Social disintegration/disintegration theory (wars, disasters)
•2.2 Absolute deprivation (poverty, homelessness ...)
•2.3 Disruption of the everyday (disruption of routine, sense of security, changes in social
organisation/control ...)
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•Psycho-social factors (frustration-aggression, relative deprivation, status mismatch)
•BUT: what to compare with? Is the problem felt? Is it perceived as legitimate (fair)? Is it felt
as a threat of loss? How is it interpreted? -> these psychological processes are key
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1)

Problems/grievances and their framing
•Framing - labeling, interpretation of collective action
•The mediating role of culture
•Key role of opinion, meanings
•Diagnostic, prognostic, motivational frames
•Problematization - politicization + attribution of blame/responsibility

Summary
•Individual/daily problems/grievances vs. mobilizing problems/grievances
•Key motivating incentives for collective action
•Under what conditions do they arise?
•Not an automatic, mechanical response to material conditions (but their presence is often
necessary)
•Often related to a sense of loss and disruption of the everyday
•Psychological processes an important factor (vs. psychological states)
•Key framing processes and interpretations

•Pro-Palestine protest in London
•https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AFr2M0qgXxg
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•Pro-Ukraine protest in London
•https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Vu35Ff0cKM
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