PUBLIC-GOOD MOVEMENTS AND THE DIMENSIONS OF POLITICAL-PROCESS - POSTWAR GERMAN PEACE MOVEMENTS

Although nuclear war would have proven equally deadly to all West Germ ans, only certain people at certain times mobilized against this poten tial danger. What explains the cyclicity of peace protest, the composi tion of movement activism, and variations in organizational structure over time? Adopting a political process framework a three-pronged argu ment is made. The timing, duration, and size of peace mobilization cyc les reflected the mix of opportunities and constraints provided by the public-policy process and other aspects of politics. The framing of d efense issues by institutions and extraparliamentary groups strongly i nfluenced the composition of movement activism. Adequate organizationa l capacities depended on the availability of autonomous extraparliamen tary networks. Although the political process framework has usually se rved to analyze citizenship movements, it is adapted here to a public- good movement.