Compare and contrast the goals, composition, and tactics that social movements and interest groups use
What will be an ideal response?
Social movements differ from other forms of collective action such as interest
groups and political parties in three ways. First, relative to other forms of collective
action, social movements attempt to attract followers by making broad, abstract
appeals, and are less likely to offer concrete enticements to get people to participate.
Relative to interest groups, social movements' appeals seek to resonate with individuals'
political identities rather than with narrower and more concrete political interests.
Second, compared to interest groups and political parties, social movements are
relatively informal organizations, and tend to have less hierarchical and more fluid
structures. This does not mean that social movements are spontaneous, such as riots or
protests. Even though they may not be as highly institutionalized as an interest group or
political party, social movements can and do often endure, whereas riots and protests
are typically ephemeral, even if they occur frequently. Third, compared to interest
groups and political parties, social movements tend to concentrate their activities to the
sphere of civil society rather than in the formal institutions of the state. Some social
movements even distance themselves from the government and engage in
"consciousness-raising" or educational activities designed to change the way people
think about an issue rather than directly lobbying the government to change a policy.
You might also like to view...
Which of the following oversees lobbyist activities?
A. secretary of state B. attorney general C. governor's Commission on Lobbyists D. Texas Ethics Commission
Of all those who have served as president starting with Eisenhower, who issued the most vetoes?
a. Eisenhower b. Kennedy c. Nixon d. Clinton
Which of the following is true of the entrepreneurial theory?
A) This line of thought focuses on the importance of the leaders who establish an organization. B) This line of thought focuses on the ideologies of an organization. C) This line of thought focuses on the people who are affected by an organization. D) This line of thought focuses on the importance of funds necessary to run an organization. E) This line of thought focuses on the problem of free riders who benefit from an organization.
In California's system of separated powers, the legislature ______.
A. carries out law B. makes law or policy and carries it out C. makes law or policy D. none of these