Frames of Protest: Social Movements and the Framing Perspective

Frames of Protest brings together important empirical research and theoretical essays by leading sociologists, political scientists, and media specialists that focus on social movement frames and framing practices. Frames are new ways of understanding political and social relations that emphasize injustice and the need for change. As such, they are crucial for the development of social movements and protest. Frames of Protest is the only book to focus exclusively on this major research perspective in social movement and protest studies. Thirteen chapters encompass the major themes in the framing perspective to offer a state-of-the-art review. Three chapters present evidence for the determining influence of framing in social movement mobilization. Next, framing activities by the state and the mass media are analyzed. Then, two research reports examine the effect of political opportunities on framing-in Poland under the Communists and in New York City's ethnic politics. Several chapters by leading theorists present a lively debate about the relationship of ideologies to collective action frames. The book closes with a hands-on discussion about analyzing textual materials and interview transcripts to do frame analysis that lends itself to longitudinal and cross-case comparisons.

Table of Contents:
Chapter 1 Frames of Protest: A Roadmap to a Perspective Part 2 I Framing and Mobilization Processes Chapter 3 Explaining Suffrage Mobilization: Balance, Neutralization, and Range in Collective Action Frames Chapter 4 Collective Action Frames in the Gay Liberation Movement, 1969-1973 Chapter 5 Strategic Framing, Emotions, and Superbarrio-Mexico City's Masked Crusader Part 6 II Non-Movement Framing: The State and Media Chapter 7 Official Frames in Social Movement Theory: The FBI, HUAC, and the Communist threat in Hollywood Chapter 8 Mobilizing the White March: Media Frames as Alternatives to Movement Organizations Part 9 III Framing and Political Opportunities Chapter 10 Framing, Political Opportunities, and Eastern European Mobilization Chapter 11 Political Opportunities and Framing Puerto Rican Identity in New York City Part 12 IV Refining the Perspective Chapter 13 What a Good Idea! Ideology and Frames in Social Movement Research Chapter 14 Clarifying the Relationship between Framing and Ideology Chapter 15 Breaking the Frame Chapter 16 Strategic Imperative, Ideology, and Frame Chapter 17 Comparative Frame Analysis 18 Index 19 About the Contributors

About the Author :
Hank Johnston is editor of Mobilization: An International Journal, San Diego State University, where he teaches social psychology and social change. John A. Noakes is associate director of the Center for Teaching and Learning, University of Pennsylvania.

Review :
By producing a systematic comprehensive work they offer something new that is a great step towards defining the framing perspective as a new academic sub-field in its own right. While non-specialists and students will benefit most from this book with its substantial overview of the relevant literature, the ideology vs. frame debate contained in the final chapters will trigger a great deal of debate among academic scholars. With useful material on framing and the mobilization process, nonmovement actors, political opportunity structures, and debates within the framing perspectives, this collection provides a well-thought-out compendium of work in the area.