Maria Anderson
BUS610: Organizational Behavior
Instructor: Dr. Leo Smith
May 15, 2012
Social Movements
What type of People Tend to Become Involved in Movements
Social movements are a type of group action. They are a large group of people that gather together to express their concerns or opinions mainly on a specific subject or idea. Historians found that the people that tend to become involved in movements are people that find interest in the specific movement (Gerlach and Hines, 1970, p. 20). Contributors that become involved in movements tend to invest in the idea that is presented by the leaders and movers that have passion for the movement. There are all types of contributors, some that sponsor the movement financially, morally, economically, physically like a sympathizers – people who show a considerable support for those who have suffered misfortune; social group members. The Members of the movement would conduct gatherings and rallies to get others to join the idea and become part of movement. (Della Porta, 1995, p. 54).
Leaders are critical to social movements: they inspire commitment, mobilize resources, create and recognize opportunities, devise strategies, frame demands, and influence outcomes. Example: A preacher
The civil rights movement is a good place to examine the linkage between social movement leaders, and institutional context. A “freedom and justice” was embedded in the institution of the church. The church that emerged and served as the institutional framework through which the theology of the church was expressed through the sermons of preachers, emphasized the Biblical foundations of freedom and justice and the liberation rhetoric of great Biblical personalities, including Jesus, David, Ezekiel, Isaiah, Jonah, Joshua, Job, Moses, Peter, and Jesus; just to name a few. The church is an institution in which the preacher and congregants come to share cultural by engaging in dialogue during the sermon and