Policing, Collective Action and Social Movement Theory: The Case of the Northern Ireland Civil Rights Campaign

British Journal of Sociology, Vol. 51, No. 4, pp. 681-699, December 2000

19 Pages Posted: 13 May 2011

See all articles by Graham Ellison

Graham Ellison

Queen's University Belfast - School of Law

Greg Martin

The University of Sydney

Date Written: May 11, 2000

Abstract

In this paper we examine the relationship between social movements and the police through an analysis of the Civil Rights Movement (CRM) which emerged in the late 1960s in Northern Ireland. Following della Porta (1995) and Melucci (1996) we argue that the way in which episodes of collective action are policed can affect profoundly both levels of mobilization and the orientation of social movements. We also submit that the symbolic and representational dimensions of policing can be a significant trigger in the stimulation of identification processes and collective action. The paper concludes by questioning some of the assumptions contained within social movement theory, and their applicability to divided societies such as Northern Ireland.

Keywords: social movements, royal ulster constabulary, civil rights, Melucci

Suggested Citation

Ellison, Graham and Martin, Greg, Policing, Collective Action and Social Movement Theory: The Case of the Northern Ireland Civil Rights Campaign (May 11, 2000). British Journal of Sociology, Vol. 51, No. 4, pp. 681-699, December 2000, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1838719

Graham Ellison (Contact Author)

Queen's University Belfast - School of Law ( email )

School of Law
Belfast BT7 1NN, BT7 1NN
Ireland

Greg Martin

The University of Sydney ( email )

New South Wales
Sydney, NSW 2006
Australia

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