SMT responses

What is the point of Social Movement Theory (SMT)?

The main purpose of the Social Movement Theory is the show and explain why, how, and when individuals work collectively and meet their successes. SMT provides us with a better understand of past social movements and helps individuals to make future predictions. 

Is there any reason we couldn’t use the same analytical frameworks to study, say, the American Civil Rights movement and movements for political change in the MENA region?

I believe the Social Movement Theory can be applied to The American Civil Rights Movement and the urge for political change in the MENA region, in more ways than one. The same analytical framework (political opportunities/constraints, resource mobilization, and discursive opportunities/constraints) applies to both scenarios. As viewed through the documnetary, the main objective of the American Civil Rights Movement was to bring change through nonviolent protests to eliminate segregation between races. SMT can be utilized here to better understand how, when and why this change was brought about and the effects the rest of the country had on this movement. While I believe this could work, the movements were extremely different and the backgrounds of each movement differ so it maybe not be effective. 

What use can SMT be in understanding the success of Islamist movements?

Social Movement Theory is crutial in better understanding the successes of Islamist movements. SMT allows individuals to inspect the political constraints and opportunities of each movement in a unique matter based upon what is occurring in a specific country. The theory also is used to understand and observe the social hierarchy of a specific state and how interest groups can bring success to a social movement. In addiction, individuals are able to look at what actors took responsibility for what during an Islamist Movement.