Theory of relative deprivation-
- Social conflict arises when a social group feels that it is worse off than another around it.
- Role of psychological factors such as resentment and rage.
- The limitations of this theory are that while perceptions of deprivation may be necessary condition for collective action but not a sufficient reason in themselves.
The logic of collective action-
- Mancour Olson’s book argues that a social movement is an aggregation of rational individual actors pursing their self-interest.
- A person will join a social movement only if there was something to be gained from it.
- Mcarthy and Zald rejected Olson’s assumptions that social movements are made up of individuals pursuing their self interest
Resource mobilization theory-
- It depends on ability to mobilize resources or means of different sorts.
- Critics argue that a social movement is not limited by existing resource. It can create resources such as new symbols and identities.
- Scarcity of resources need not be a constraint.
