Title: Social movement theory - Wikipedia
Headings: Social movement theory
Social movement theory
Contents
Classical approaches
Collective behavior theory
Mass society theory
Relative deprivation
Contemporary approaches
Structural approaches
Political opportunity/political process
Resource mobilization
Social movement impact theory
Social-constructivist approaches
New social movements
1990s social-movement studies
The Postcolonial Critique
Relevant concepts
Framing
Rational choice
References

Content: Structural approaches
Political opportunity/political process
Main article: Political opportunity
Certain political contexts should be conducive (or representative) for potential social movement activity. These climates may [dis]favor specific social movements or general social movement activity; the climate may be signaled to potential activists and/or structurally allowing for the possibility of social movement activity (matters of legality); and the political opportunities may be realized through political concessions, social movement participation, or social movement organizational founding. Opportunities may include: Increased access to political decision making power
Instability in the alignment of ruling elites (or conflict between elites)
Access to elite allies (who can then help a movement in its struggle)
Declining capacity and propensity of the state to repress dissent
Resource mobilization
Main article: Resource mobilization
Social movements need organizations first and foremost. Organizations can acquire and then deploy resources to achieve their well-defined goals. To predict the likelihood that the preferences of a certain group in society will turn into protest, these theorists look at the pre-existing organization of this group.