The Emergence of a New Social Movement

Social Networks and Collective Action on Water Issues in Guelph, Ontario

Bibliographic Data

ID6181561
AuthorsRobert A Case (0000-0002-6366-5988), Robert Case, Lea Caragata (0000-0002-7962-526X)
Year2009
Volume40
Issue3
Pages247-261
Publication date2009-08-20
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueCommunity Development (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1557-5330 • E-ISSN: 1944-7485
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/15575330903091738
OpenAlexW2014949575
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited4

For new social movement theorists, changes in Western capitalist societies brought about by the transition from an industrial to a post-industrial era are fundamental to understanding the formation, structure, and operation of new social movements. Using observational and interview data from a 2008 World Water Day rally, this article draws on and examines theoretical contributions of New Social Movement theorists Alain Touraine, Alberto Melucci, and Claus Offe to inform an exploration and analysis of growing collective action on water issues in Guelph, Ontario. The authors argue that growing citizen engagement in water issues in Guelph and area, operating primarily through loosely organized informal social networks, represents growing collective action that constitutes a vibrant New Social Movement. So conceptualized, the authors discuss implications for theoretical understandings of citizen mobilization in general and for the strengthening of collective action on water itself

Action (physics · Collective action · Mobilization · Movement (music · Political science · Politics · Public relations · Resource mobilization · Social change · Social movement · Social movement theory · Sociology · Community and Sustainable Development · Community Health and Development · Social Work Education and Practice

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