The theory of social movements and the British Labour Movement, circa 1790-1920
The following study aims to apply concepts drawn from the sociology of social movements to the history of the labour movement in Britain, from the late eighteenth century to the early twentieth century. It proceeds from a definition of the social movement as a logic of action, which tends to overcome domination, by envisaging an alternative project for society. The key features of the logic of social movement are its principles of Identity', 'opposition' and totality', which develop co-jointly and coherently. This logic can only be retrieved analytically, since it is argued that collective action is complex, and also contains a different logic, tending towards the pursuit of interests, which as such does not criticise social power in general terms. These concepts are applied to labour action and discussed through a comparison with pluralist and Marxist approaches in the sociology of the labour movement. Both perspectives are criticised for the dichotomy that they impose between social antagonism and institutional action. However, the proposed definition of social movements is indebted to Marx's insight that social conflict cannot be reabsorbed by collective bargaining procedures and parliamentary politics;
Famiglietti, Antonio
HD Industries. Land use. Labor
The theory of social movements and the British Labour Movement, circa 1790-1920. The following study aims to apply concepts drawn from the sociology of social movements to the history of the labour movement in Britain, from the late eighteenth century to the early twentieth century. It proceeds from a definition of the social movement as a logic of action, which tends to overcome domination, by envisaging an alternative project for society. The key features of the logic of social movement are its principles of Identity', 'opposition' and totality', which develop co-jointly and coherently. This logic can only be retrieved analytically, since it is argued that collective action is complex, and also contains a different logic, tending towards the pursuit of interests, which as such does not criticise social power in general terms. These concepts are applied to labour action and discussed through a comparison with pluralist and Marxist approaches in the sociology of the labour movement. Both perspectives are criticised for the dichotomy that they impose between social antagonism and institutional action. However, the proposed definition of social movements is indebted to Marx's insight that social conflict cannot be reabsorbed by collective bargaining procedures and parliamentary politics;
theory social_movement british labour_movement circa follow study aim apply_concept draw sociology social_movement history labour_movement britain proceed definition social_movement logic action tend overcome domination envisage alternative project society key_feature logic social_movement principle identity opposition totality develop jointly coherently logic retrieve analytically since argue collective_action complex also_contain different logic tend_towards pursuit interest criticise social_power general term concept apply labour action discuss comparison pluralist marxist approach sociology labour_movement perspective criticise dichotomy impose social antagonism institutional action however propose definition social_movement indebted marx insight social conflict collective bargaining procedure parliamentary politics