Notes: Resource Mobilisation Theory | Sociology Mains Optional for UPSC 2025 PDF Download

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Resource Mobilisation Theory 
RMT developed in the late 1960s and 1970s, partly as a reaction to social unrest theories, which appeared to 
portray social movements as 'irrational' phenomena 
Oberschall, Tilly, Zald and McCarthy 
Capitalist societies produce chronic discontent so there should be perpetual movements 
Social unrest is always present and movements therefore cannot be explained by reference to it 
Cause 
Chronic discontent turn into social movements when necessary resources are available to effectively 
challenge the established order 
RMT 
• Political dissatisfaction is not enough to bring about social change 
• Resources are needed to become an active force in society 
• RMT have an economistic feel 
• There are similarities between social movements and the competitive market economy 
• There is a competitive field of movements - a 'social movement industry' (SMI) - within which movements 
compete for scarce resources, members and activists 
• Social movement organizations (SMOs) therefore find themselves in competition with other SMOs, some 
of which may appear to share their aims 
Critics 
- RMT underplays the effects of post-industrialism or globalization processes in bringing change on 
Social Movements. These may change the context of movement struggles 
- One-off incidents, like reporting of an asylum seeking kid dying while crossing the seas, stirred the 
European community to change their asylum policy 
- A lack of resources can be turned to a movement's advantage Example - 'Poor people's movements' in 
the USA 
This was because activists in the early stages were very enthusiastic and took part in many direct actions such 
as strikes and sit-ins 
- But once they became more effectively organized, direct actions became fewer and the 'dead hand of 
bureaucracy', as described by Max Weber and Robert Michels, took over as the movements lost 
momentum and impact.