Ideologically Structured Action: An Enlarged Agenda For Social Movement Research
Author: Mayer N. Zald
Abstract
The conceptual definitions we use in social science often need adjusting to allow scholars to hone in on issues that are obscured under other definitions and to open research agendas. Here it is argued that a focus upon social movements as ideologically structured action accomplishes two objectives. First, it allows us to incorporate cultural/cognitive components of action into our core definition. Second, it helps us broaden our research agenda to include a deeper and fuller view of socialization to social movement ideology and to social movement-related action that takes place in a variety of institutional arenas, including electorial competition, legislative processes, bureaucratic agencies and executive offices.
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