The micro and meso levels of activism : a comparative case study of Attac France and Attac Germany

Focusing on the Attac movements in France and Germany, this book seeks to explain the dramatic differences that exist between the individual and organisational levels of activism. The author derives engagement patterns for various types of activists and develops a typology of social movement organisations positing possible trends in membership. The Attac organisations in France and Germany are among the largest, best coordinated and most closely aligned bodies of the anti-globalisation movement that exist today yet there are glaring differences in the manner in which the organisations operate and in how individual members identify and engage with the movement. Through insightful interviews with Attac activists in France and Germany, Daniel Stockemer seeks to understand the significant divergences between the organisations despite their clear ideological parallels as well as the geographical, social and political similarities that exist between the two countries. In doing so this book provides a strong addition to the literature on activist movements on the national and international stage generally through the author's derivation of engagement patterns for various types of activists and development of a typology of social movement organisations that undercover possible trends in membership. The result is a book that will provide an informative and engaging read for students and scholars of activist movements at both an organisational and individual level Front Matter....Pages i-vi Introduction....Pages 1-13 The Social Movement Scholarship: What We Know and What Is Still Unclear....Pages 14-32 The Alter-Globalization Movement and Attac....Pages 33-49 The Methods and the Interview Sample....Pages 50-76 The Trajectory of Attac France....Pages 77-99 The Trajectory of Attac Germany....Pages 100-117 Why, When, and How Much Are People Involved?....Pages 118-140 Conclusion....Pages 141-149 Back Matter....Pages 150-226