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

Social Movement Theory attempts to help us understand why and how specific groups form to take collective action on a cause that is dear to them. Whether it be racial, religious, gender-based, nationalistic, political, or economic, many types of activism are the subject of movements that are comprised of people of very diverse backgrounds. It's important to note that, whether or not you deem the cause to be good or bad, social movements are meant to be a tool for seeking justice for the people that are participating in them. They involve attempts to make change, no matter at what level or degree this change occurs. A social movement can be used to topple an authoritarian government regime, or it can be used to change a community law that is discriminatory. In the introduction of Social Movements, Mobilization, and Contestation in the Middle East and North Africa, Beinin and Vairel point out that historical and contemporary context are essential in understanding the origins and methods of social movements, and that social movements in themselves are usually very complex and ever-evolving entities, especially in the Middle East/North Africa region.

Can we use the same analytical frameworks to study the American Civil Rights movement and movements for political change in the MENA region?

I believe we can use the same analytical frameworks to study the American Civil Rights movement and movements for political change in the MENA region, but we must do so with caution. There are many similarities that are present in almost all social movements, and these two cases are no exception. For real change to occur, there must be passion, organization, and, as highlighted by Hinnebusch in "Democratisation in the Middle East: Dilemmas and Perspectives", discipline. These elements and many others are essential to make your cause a reality. The American Civil Rights Movement had incredible organization and preparedness when it came to implementing marches and sit-ins. As seen in the documentary, this movement received inspiration from previous non-violent struggles, such as Gandhi. What made this movement most successful was the willingness of taking risks in order to support the cause. Passion cannot be underestimated. This is what we also see with the strive for political change in the MENA region. People acknowledge the oppression and injustice they see every day and they seek to do something about it. Like the American Civil Rights Movement, people in this region have demonstrated discipline and passion in many ways, including many of the protests within the Arab uprisings of 2011. However, as mentioned previously, we must be cautious when comparing these two movements. The American Civil Rights Movement was under a democracy and most of Middle Eastern/North African movements are not. Does that make a difference? These MENA region movements are also modern, meaning they have use of social media and the internet. Does that make a difference? This region also has complicated colonial, religious, and tribal/urban histories. Does that make a difference?  

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

SMT allows us to acknowledge that social movements, in their participants, causes, and methods, can be extremely diverse and complex. With Islamist movements specifically, there are thousands of years of tribal ethnic context that needs to be taken into account, as well as almost 1,500 years of religious (Islamic) context and 100 years worth of colonial/border context. These issues are rooted in the region and must be included in the analysis of why these movements happen and what methods are used (non-violent protests, violent dictator overthrows, etc.). SMT can also help us acknowledge and understand how political structure must be taken into account in regards to the origins of these movements. With the MENA region, authoritarian dictatorships, monarchies, and theocratic regimes have developed and dominated. What does this contribute to the atmosphere of social movements? Of course, religion as both a tool for the people and a weapon against them, must be taken into account, and SMT theory can help do this. However, as in the words of Beinin and Vairel, this region shouldn't just be defined as "Islam". Complexities within these movements and the passion that ignites them are what make them successful.