Social movements and policy implementation: The Mississippi civil rights movement and the War on Poverty, 1965 to 1971

This study of the Mississippi civil rights movement and the War on Poverty examines the relationship between social movements and policy implementatio n. A "movement infrastructure" model is developed that focuses on organizat ional structure, resources, and leadership to account for the impact of soc ial movements on policy implementation. A two-tiered research design is emp loyed that includes (1) a quantitative analysis of poverty programs in Miss issippi counties from 1965 to 1971, and (2) case studies that show the comp lex interaction between the civil rights movement, resistance by whites, lo cal powerholders, and federal agencies. The quantitative analysis shows tha t counties with strong movement infrastructures generated greater funding f or Community Action Programs. The case studies show that movements were exc luded from the initial formation of these programs as local whites attempte d to preempt civil rights activists. However in counties with strong moveme nt infrastructures, activists were able to gain access to decision-making b odies and shape the content of poverty programs.