Generations, microcohorts, and long-term mobilization: The Estonian National Movement, 1940-1991

Generational cohorts are often key collective actors in large-scale mass mo bilizations and in movements that develop over long periods. Based on seven ty-two biographical interviews, me analyze the generational composition of the Estonian national opposition. Several microcohorts ave identified on th e basis of experience of historical events and specific political opportuni ties. These microcohorts clustered around two master collective action fram es that, over the long term, shaped the trajectory of the movement into two wings, one claiming a pure Estonian frame for collective action and the ot her an accommodationist frame. This article traces these dual streams of th e national movement during its forty-year trajectory and extrapolates from the analysis several conditions in which generational cohorts are likely to be fundamental causal elements in social movement development.