Social Movement Locals: Modal Member Structures

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Abstract
Social movement organizations are in whole or part human associations situated in some local area. Called chapters, cells, units, clubs, circles, locals, or whatever, these are the on-going and operating ends of social movements. Despite their obvious importance to the analysis of movements, little attention has been given them and we seek to remedy this neglect. In surveying the literature, we have asked: What is the “modal member” of the movement organization local actually doing most of the time and what portion of her or his round of life is organized by it? So viewed, movement locals exhibit six basic patterns of construction and modal membership. These are listed and the simplest of them—the association sustained by volunteers—is analyzed in terms of its own forms of organization: the study group, fellowship, congregation, sect, and cell. Implications for the broader study of social movements are drawn out.

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