Movement Maintenance

Movement maintenance
The need for social movement organizations
Micro-mobilization spurs collective action, but informal groups of friends,
ad-hoc committees, or loose associations of activists are not sufficient to
develop or maintain a movement. This requires what are called social
movement organizations or SMOs. Typically these “command posts of the
movement” have an office, staff, volunteers and a board of directors
Role of the SMO
A social movement organization needs to carve out a niche for itself in the
larger environment of other organizations pursuing similar objectives. As
well, it must develop productive relationships with media, funders, the
media and government. Most important, each SMO must figure out a way to
routinize a flow of people and money to support the ”cause”. SMOs that
demand the least from members will be the most successful in obtaining
members and money. One common variation—the professional
SMO—purports to speak for a large constituency, but consists of a small
paid staff connected through direct mail to a membership of people who are
little more than donors.
Radical Flank Effects
Research on SMOs pursuing relatively similar goals shows the presence of
extremist groups leads to greater support for moderate groups. Funders
increase their support to moderate groups as a way of undercutting radical
groups. Moreover the presence of more extreme groups alters the definition
of middle, making former radicals seem merely progressive. To secure their
place, the new moderates have to denounce the actions of their extremist
counterparts as irresponsible, immoral, and counterproductive. The most
astute will quietly encourage "responsible extremism" at the same time.
Government control through regulation, intimidation and cooptation
The modern state usually defends elite interests and resists social
movements. It does so though tax policies; laws affecting boycott, strikes and
blockades; strategic withholding of funds; denial of non-profit charity status;
police intimidation; and various forms of cooptation.
The use of force is a dicey issue for government. In the short run
systematic, sustained, moderate force works. But if it goes on too long or
becomes extreme, the use of force can generate a backlash against
government and a boost for the movement. Because a violent response to a
peaceful protest generates great sympathy from the media and the general
public, peaceful provocation has become a standard tactic of activists.