Social Movement, Conflict and Change
Towards a Theoretical Orientation
- Author
- Partha Nath Mukherji Institute of Social Sciences, New Delhi
Introduction ‘As they evolved in Western countries’, contends Charles Tilly, ‘social movements combined three major elements: (1) sustained campaigns of claimmaking; (2) an array of public performances including marches, rallies, processions, demonstrations, occupations, picket lines, blockades, public meetings, delegations, statements to and in public media, petition drives, letterwriting, pamphleteering, lobbying, and creation of specialised associations, coalitions, or fronts – in short, the social movement repertoire; and (3) repeated public displays of worthiness, unity, numbers and commitment (WUNC) by such means as wearing colors, marching in disciplined ranks, sporting badges that advertise the cause, displaying signs, chanting slogans, singing militant songs, and picketing public buildings.’ (Tilly 2006: 183-84; emphasis added)