Repertoires, identities, and issues of collective action in the candlelight movement of South Korea

In this case study, we examine the evolution of particular themes and identities of collective action. Using the 2016 Candlelight Movement in South Korea as a case study, we attempt to understand how communication processes construct the sociocultural meanings of collective action. We argue that understanding a social movement requires comprehension of the communicative actions of the movement participants, either physically or symbolically engaged, through which they together make sense of the broad contexts and meanings of the movement as they actively pursue construction of the identities and themes of the collective action. Based on a communication perspective of social movements, we developed three research questions regarding the specific features of the collective action repertoire, collective identities and issue framing. Considering the extensive impact of media communication technologies in mobilising collective action in South Korea, especially mobile social networking platforms, we chose one of the most popular social network sites, Twitter, as the data source of communicative actions for the study. Content analysis and semantic network analysis was conducted with a sample of 1,779,902 tweets. Based on the analyses, we suggest that the collective action and identities both shape and are shaped by the communication networks of the movement participants as they interact with not only the counter-movement actors, but also the movement’s social, economic and cultural conditions.

Download Full-text

Outcome Framing and Movement Dynamics: Korean White-Collar Unions' Political Mobilization and Interunion Solidarity, 1987–1995

Mobilization An International Quarterly ◽

10.17813/maiq.9.1.c234713127466580 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

pp. 17-37 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Doowon Suh

Keyword(s):

Collective Action ◽

Subjective Evaluation ◽

White Collar ◽

Well Being ◽

Political Protest ◽

Collective Identities ◽

Movement Trajectories ◽

Union Movement ◽

Movement Dynamics

This article investigates Tilly's (1978) long-neglected question of how collective action outcomes modify agents' interests and movement dynamics. A case study of the Korean white-collar union movement demonstrates how the framing of collective action outcomes influences movement trajectories in two ways. First, actors' subjective evaluation of whether collective action succeeds or fails to attain movement goals alters movement dynamics by changing goals, strategies, tactics, action repertoires, and collective identities. Second, to whom the cause of the collective action outcome is attributed mediates these transformations. The evaluation of outcomes and attribution of causes is ongoing. They occur throughout the development of social movements and dynamically shape their trajectories. The case study confirms these observations: in early stages of collective action, when union members considered union efforts to improve their economic well-being fruitless and blamed government intervention for their failures, union activities evolved into political protest against the state and struggle for democratization. At a later stage, when agents successfully achieved economic and political goals and credited their union activism for the victory, union movements progressed by intensifying interunion solidarity.

Download Full-text

Moral Imagination, Collective Action, and the Achievement of Moral Outcomes

Business Ethics Quarterly ◽

10.5840/beq20091914 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 19 (1) ◽

pp. 87-104 ◽

Cited By ~ 25

Author(s):

Timothy J. Hargrave

Keyword(s):

Collective Action ◽

Moral Imagination ◽

Social Process ◽

Resource Mobilization ◽

Issue Framing ◽

New Directions ◽

Action Model ◽

Political Conditions ◽

Moral Outcomes

ABSTRACT:Drawing upon the collective action model of institutional change, I reconceptualize moral imagination as both a social process and a cognitive one. I argue that moral outcomes are not produced by individual actors alone; rather, they emerge from collective action processes that are influenced by political conditions and involve behaviors that include issue framing and resource mobilization. I also contend that individual moral imagination involves the integration of moral sensitivity with consideration of collective action dynamics. I illustrate my arguments with a case study of the Chad-Cameroon oil project. The paper suggests new directions in teaching and research on moral imagination.

Download Full-text

Understanding the Outcomes of Climate Change Campaigns in the Australian Environmental Movement

Case Studies in the Environment ◽

10.1525/cse.2018.001651 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 3 (1) ◽

pp. 1-9

Author(s):

Robyn Gulliver ◽

Kelly S. Fielding ◽

Winnifred Louis

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Collective Action ◽

Environmental Advocacy ◽

Personal Support ◽

Governmental Organizations ◽

Collective Response ◽

Non Governmental Organizations ◽

Advocacy Network ◽

Australian Climate

Climate change is a global problem requiring a collective response. Grassroots advocacy has been an important element in propelling this collective response, often through the mechanism of campaigns. However, it is not clear whether the climate change campaigns organized by the environmental advocacy groups are successful in achieving their goals, nor the degree to which other benefits may accrue to groups who run them. To investigate this further, we report a case study of the Australian climate change advocacy sector. Three methods were used to gather data to inform this case study: content analysis of climate change organizations’ websites, analysis of website text relating to campaign outcomes, and interviews with climate change campaigners. Findings demonstrate that climate change advocacy is diverse and achieving substantial successes such as the development of climate change-related legislation and divestment commitments from a range of organizations. The data also highlights additional benefits of campaigning such as gaining access to political power and increasing groups’ financial and volunteer resources. The successful outcomes of campaigns were influenced by the ability of groups to sustain strong personal support networks, use skills and resources available across the wider environmental advocacy network, and form consensus around shared strategic values. Communicating the successes of climate change advocacy could help mobilize collective action to address climate change. As such, this case study of the Australian climate change movement is relevant for both academics focusing on social movements and collective action and advocacy-focused practitioners, philanthropists, and non-governmental organizations.

Download Full-text