Motivational Dimensions in Social Movements and Contentious Collective Action

For years, students of social movements and other forms of contentious action have been sharply divided over what motivates people to engage in protest. Early on, analysts generally agreed that participation in acts of protest was motivated by various deprivations pushing toward action. Newer perspectives began to reject these views, holding that grievances were permanent and ubiquitous, and could not therefore explain new forms of action. Goods to be pursued were then seen as the essential and pulling motivational force. However, even those came to be seen as inessential and the focus turned toward structural factors such as organizations, resources, opportunities, and mobilization as the crucial determinants of protest.

After exposing the limitations of these conflicting perspectives, Maurice Pinard elaborates on an entirely new synthesis, one that involves several motivational components. The pushing force of felt grievances, now with qualifications, is brought back but accompanied, or at times replaced, by other forces, such as feelings of moral obligation or simple aspirations. With regard to pulling factors, collective goods or goals pursued can be involved or replaced by individual material or social rewards granted to participants. Expectancy of success, a generally neglected component, also enters the picture. Finally, the effect of emotions and collective identities are among additional factors that must be considered.

By developing theoretical distinctions that have important empirical implications and enriching and sharpening our understanding of the motivational factors for collective action, Pinard offers a major contribution destined to become an essential new starting point for any future writers addressing these issues.