Social Movement theories are concerned with how groups become agents of social change. In this section we will Consider what Black Lives Matter can teach us about how social movements build collective power for action change.

6.6.1 New Social Movement Theory

New social movement theory, a development of European social scientists in the 1950s and 1960s, attempts to explain the proliferation of postindustrial and postmodern movements that are difficult to analyze using traditional social movement theories. Rather than being one specific theory, it is more of a perspective that revolves around understanding movements as they relate to politics, identity, culture, and social change. Some of these more complex interrelated movements include ecofeminism as we discussed in Chapter 5, which focuses on the patriarchal society as the source of environmental problems, and interdependent movements for racial, gender and disability justice.

6.6.2 Resource Mobilization

McCarthy and Zald (1977) conceptualize resource mobilization theory as a way to explain movement success in terms of the ability to acquire resources and mobilize individuals. Resources are primarily time and money, and the more of both, the greater the power of organized movements. Resource mobilization can include funding secured from sympathetic allies and donors outside of the impacted community can give a movement increased visibility and influence.

6.6.3 Indigenous Perspective

Aldon Morris has researched the origins, nature, patterns and outcomes of global movements that have successfully resisted and overthrown systems oppression and injustice. With indigenous perspective theory, Morris argues it was the mobilization of black community’s internal resources, knowledge, power, and skill that powered both the 20th century civil rights movement (CRM) and the 21rst century movement for black lives (BLM). In both cases, specific systems of domination were identified by members of oppressed communities, who also planned and executed direct action and brought change. These community-based processes,which center collective agency and lived expertise, become the foundation for a political base from which deliberate and effective collective action can emerge.