A collective action frame is a crucial concept in understanding how social movements mobilize support and inspire participation.
According to the provided reference, collective action frames are constituted by two sets of characteristic features. These features define their nature and function within social movements and other forms of collective mobilization.
Understanding the Core Features
Based on the reference, the definition of a collective action frame rests upon two pillars:
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Action-Oriented Function: An SMO's “Core Framing Tasks”
- This first feature highlights the primary purpose of a collective action frame: to motivate and guide individuals towards collective action.
- It directly relates to the "core framing tasks" performed by Social Movement Organizations (SMOs), as identified by Snow & Benford (1988).
- These tasks involve defining the situation, identifying grievances, attributing blame, and proposing solutions in a way that resonates with potential participants and encourages them to act collectively. The frame serves as the tool for accomplishing these tasks.
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Interactive, Discursive Processes
- The second feature emphasizes that collective action frames are not static entities.
- They are generated and evolve through ongoing communication and interaction among individuals, groups, and the broader public.
- These discursive processes involve debate, negotiation, storytelling, and the sharing of ideas and interpretations that shape how a problem or issue is understood and acted upon collectively.
How Frames Function
In essence, a collective action frame provides a shared understanding of a situation that makes collective action seem both necessary and possible. By performing the core framing tasks through interactive processes, frames help to:
- Diagnose problems: Clearly articulate what is wrong and why.
- Prognose solutions: Suggest what needs to be done to fix the problem.
- Motivate action: Inspire individuals to believe they can make a difference and encourage participation.
These frames provide the interpretive schemata that allow individuals to see themselves as part of a collective effort capable of bringing about change.
