The Micro and Meso Levels of Activism: A Comparative Case Study of Attac France and Germany

by D. Stockemer

Overview

Focusing on the Attac movements in France and Germany, this book seeks to explain the dramatic differences that exist between the individual and organisational levels of activism. The author derives engagement patterns for various types of activists and develops a typology of social movement organisations positing possible trends in membership.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781349442973
Publisher:	Palgrave Macmillan UK
Publication date:	01/01/2013
Series:	Interest Groups, Advocacy and Democracy Series
Edition description:	1st ed. 2013
Pages:	232
Product dimensions:	5.51(w) x 8.50(h) x (d)

About the Author

Daniel Skemer is an Assistant Professor in the School of Political Studies at the University of Ottawa, Canada. Daniel is interested in questions of political participation and representation. Among others, his work has appeared in European Union Politics, Electoral Studies and the International Political Science Review.

Table of Contents

Introduction 1. The Social Movement Scholarship: What do We Know and What is Still Unclear 2. The Alter-Globalization Movement and Attac 3. The Methods and the Interview Sample 4. The Trajectory of Attac France 5. The Trajectory of Attac Germany 6. Why, When and how Much are People Involved? Conclusion Appendix 1: The Interview and Coding Scheme for this Study The Interview Scheme The Coding Scheme Appendix 2: The Organizational Structure of Attac France Appendix 3: The Organizational Structure of Attac Germany Appendix 4: The Interviews France Germany

Editorial Reviews

An interesting comparative study. Playing with the interaction of individual motives and organizational appeals, the author accounts for the diverging trajectories of the branches of Attac in Germany and France. Applying and testing a motivational model he develops a dynamical approach to protest participation.

Bert Klandermans, Faculty of Social Sciences, Vrije University Amsterdam, Netherlands

Why do people join, participate in, and leave social movement organizations (SMOs)? What can explain these organizations' diverse trajectories? Daniel Skemer analyzes these theoretical issues by comparing the French and German branches of ATTAC, the influential spearhead of the alter-globalization movement. His nuanced account cogently demonstrates the value of integrating theoretical analyses of collective action with an empirical focus on the dynamics of SMOs.

Mark Kesselman, Professor Emeritus of Government, Department of Politics, Columbia University, USA.

From the Publisher