M. Peckham, New dimensions of social movement/countermovement interaction: The case ofscientology and its Internet critics, CAN J SOC, 23(4), 1998, pp. 317-347
Citations number
70
Categorie Soggetti
Sociology & Antropology
Journal title
CANADIAN JOURNAL OF SOCIOLOGY-CAHIERS CANADIENS DE SOCIOLOGIE
The interaction between social movements and countermovements is a key aspe
ct of resource mobilization theory, yet researchers have devoted comparativ
ely little study to it. This article uses the conflict between Scientology
and its Internet critics as a case study in movement/countermovement intera
ction, concentrating on resource deprivation and damaging actions. The uniq
ueness of Internet communication, however, requires adjustments to traditio
nal resource mobilization theory in order to theorize this conflict, and th
is article proposes two refinements. First, the study of Internet movement/
countermovement interaction involves the displacement of the normally-centr
al role of the state in resource mobilization theory. Second, a rethinking
of the definition of resources to include "virtual" resources facilitates m
ovement! countermovement analysis on the Internet.