Applying Social Movement Theory to Nonhuman Rights Mobilization and the Importance of Faction Hierarchies

This article explores the nonhuman animal rights movement through the lens of social movement theory, giving specific focus to faction hierarchies — segments of the movement that compete for limited attention and resources, e.g., radial groups versus professionalized organizations—as a potential obstacle to success.

“This paper offers an exploratory analysis of social movement theory as it relates to the nonhuman animal rights movement. Individual participant motivations and experiences, movement resource mobilization, and movement relationships with the public, the political environment, historical context, countermovements, and the media are discussed. In particular, the hierarchical relationships between factions are highlighted as an important area for further research in regards to social movement success. Specifically, the role of counterframing in subduing radical mobilization and the potential aggravating factor of status contamination is explored.”

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