The New Social Movement Approach

Christian Scholl*

*Corresponding author for this work

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterAcademic

    Abstract

    In contrast to other approaches, the new social movement (NSM) approach stands out, with its complicated language and yet less structured analytical categories. Because it is the first approach to pay extensive attention to the cultural dimension of contentious politics, it is an important theoretical tradition to consider in relation to political citizenship and social movements. It eschews the assumption that social movements are to be directed merely at (national) governments and institutional reform (even political revolution), by explicitly attempting directly to influence society and culture. First, this chapter presents the main arguments made by various contributors to the NSM approach. Second, I summarize the main critiques and debates it has unleashed. Third, I examine recent developments of this approach, specifically in the context of globalization. Fourth, this chapter identifies a number of challenges posed by these developments and makes suggestions for future research. Now, let me historically contextualize the emergence of the NSM approach.

    Original languageEnglish
    Title of host publicationHandbook of Political Citizenship and Social Movements
    PublisherEdward Elgar Publishing
    Pages233-258
    ISBN (Electronic)9781781954706
    ISBN (Print)9781781954690
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2014

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