It’s a Win-Win For Everybody: Social Movement Strategies in Institutions as Repertoires of Alignment

• In Event: 556 - Regular Session. Collective Behavior

Abstract

State-oriented social movement paradigms view social movement strategies as repertoires of contention. Instead, we argue that in addition to using contentious strategies, activists within institutions employ what we call repertoires of alignment wherein they seek to link the interests of their institutions with their stated demands. We elaborate this concept through a study of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) employee resource groups based on in depth interviews and demonstrate how employee activists seek to align the interests of employers with those of the LGBT movement. Thus we provide a theoretical way to understand non-contentious social movement strategies, how they operate within non-state institutions, and why they bring about change.

Authors

• Mary Bernstein, University of Connecticut

• Apoorva Ghosh, University of California-Irvine