Cohesion and Fragmentation in Social Movements

How Frames and Identities Shape the Belo Monte Conflict

verfasst von: Ina Peters

Verlag: Springer Fachmedien Wiesbaden

Buchreihe : Bürgergesellschaft und Demokratie

Enthalten in: Springer Professional "Wirtschaft+Technik" , Springer Professional "Technik" , Springer Professional "Wirtschaft"

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Über dieses Buch

Ina Peters analyzes how collective identities and collective action frames have contributed to the persistence and eventual fragmentation of the collective action against the Belo Monte Dam. Reconstructing the rationale of the conflict, Ina Peters addresses theoretical research gaps regarding the dynamics – particularly cohesion and fragmentation – in social movements. The study considers the influence of the regional context and the applicability of Western theories in non-Western case studies. It is based on primary data that was collected through semistructured interviews and analyzed in detail by means of a combined top-down and bottom-up procedure based on the grounded theory methodology.

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Frontmatter

Chapter 1. Introduction

Abstract

In February 2017 – only nine months after Brazil’s then President Dilma Rousseff had inaugurated the infrastructure project – the Belo Monte Hydroelectric Power Plant at the Xingu River was put up for sale. The companies Neoenergia, Cemig, Light, Vale, Sinobras and J. Malucelli as well as the pension funds Petros and Funcef, which held 50.02% of the operating consortium Norte Energia S.A., instructed the investment bank of Bradesco to find potential investors for the still unfinished plant. After excessive cost increases, a series of disruptions, and allegations of involvement in the Lava Jatos corruption scandal, the companies concluded that the project was unprofitable (Portal Brasil 2016; Ordoñez and Fariello 2017; Scaramuzzo and Pereira 2017).

Ina Peters

Chapter 2. Theoretical Framework

Abstract

What motivates people to dedicate time and effort to the collective action against Belo Monte – especially as the context conditions are adverse to the mobilization and maintenance of a social movement and chances for success are slim? What meanings do activists attribute to the conflict over hydropower projects at the Xingu River and to their collective action against them? These are the core questions in the analysis of the social movement against the Belo Monte Dam, and they can best be addressed with two theoretical approaches that focus on the movement participants: the collective identity approach and the framing approach.

Ina Peters

Chapter 3. Method and Procedures

Abstract

This study seeks to explore the collective action against the Belo Monte Dam in order to find out if and how collective identities and collective action frames contributed to the persistence of the collective action and the maintenance of movement cohesion in the social movement. Following a qualitative research design, the objective is to develop empirically grounded concepts that advance existing theories and contribute to evaluating the applicability of social movement theory in non-Western countries.

Ina Peters

Chapter 4. Collective Action in the Amazon State of Pará

Abstract

The warm words of welcome offered by one of my first interviewees gave me an impression of what I had to expect of my field research: a region full of charms and disappointments, and a friendly people willing to share their hopes and concerns. For me as a researcher wanting to uncover the deeper meanings of the Belo Monte conflict it was indispensable to meet my research object and my interviewees with an open mind. Likewise, I consider it indispensable for the reader of this study to familiarize himself/ herself with the context of the case study in order to truly understand the local movement and to appreciate its collective activities.

Ina Peters

Chapter 5. From Cohesion to Fragmentation: The Social Movement against Belo Monte

Abstract

When I visited Altamira and Belém in May 2012, the social movement against Belo Monte stood at a crossroad. The construction of the Belo Monte Dam was starting to take shape, workers were occupying the construction site demanding the improvement of working conditions, and the social movement was facing criminalization and legal charges for alleged instigation of the workforce and interference in the construction. However, the obvious challenges that the social movement was facing at that time turned out to be only the tip of the iceberg.

Ina Peters

Chapter 6. Evaluation, Conclusion and Outlook

Abstract

The objective of this study was to analyze how collective identities and collective action frames have contributed to the persistence of the collective action and the maintenance of movement cohesion in the social movement against the Belo Monte Dam. To that end, the study was embedded in social movement research and adopted the collective identity approach and the framing approach as its theoretical perspectives. The empirical question required a research design that sought to uncover the deeper meanings that activists attribute to the conflict over Belo Monte and to their collective action.

Ina Peters

Backmatter

Titel: Cohesion and Fragmentation in Social Movements
verfasst von: Ina Peters
Verlag: Springer Fachmedien Wiesbaden
Electronic ISBN: 978-3-658-19326-3
Print ISBN: 978-3-658-19325-6
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-658-19326-3