Title: Political opportunity - Wikipedia
Headings: Political opportunity
Political opportunity
Contents
Description
Comparison with political structure
Political mediation model
Criticism
Examples
See also
References
Sources

Content: That, in turn, may lead to the loss of indigenous support and, along with it, many of the supporting grassroots organizations that were able to quickly mobilize members at the onset of the movement. Meyer (2004) credited Eisinger (1973) with first use of the political opportunity theory framed in such a way (traces of which, of course, go further back). Eisinger asked why in the 1960s, the level of riots about race and poverty varied between different places in the United States and noted that lack of visible openings for participation of repressed or discouraged dissident made riots more likely. Thus, the inability to air grievances legally was the political opportunity which led to organization and the mobilization of movements expressing their grievances by rioting. Meyer (2004), in his overview of political opportunity theory, noted that this broader context can affect: "mobilizing",
"advancing particular claims rather than others",
"cultivating some alliances rather than others",
"employing particular political strategies and tactics rather than others", and
"affecting mainstream institutional politics and policy". A key advantage of the theory is that it explains why social movements emerge and/or increase their activity at a given time. When there are no political opportunities, simply having grievances (organizational consciousness) and resources is not enough. It is only when all three of these components are present that the movement has a chance to succeed. Comparison with political structure
Within the structure and agency debate, actions of activists (agents) can be understood only when they are seen in the broader context of political opportunities (structure).