Useem: New Mexico Prison Riots

Sociology 432: Social Movements

C. Bert Useem,

"Disorganization and the New Mexico Prison Riot of 1980"

Chapter 3 in McAdam & Snow.

also: American Sociological Review 50: 667-688. On JSTOR:

Concepts and Theory

In many ways this article is a response (and "counter-attack") to the perspective outlined in the introduction to the Jenkins and Perrow article we will read later in the semester. That article argues for a "resource mobilization" theory as against the "classical" model. Useem turns the tables on Jenkins and Perrow (and on McAdam by arguing there is something still useful in the classical, "disorganization" theory of social movements.

The breakdown model of social movements

Useem actually combines a few separate elements into what he calls his "breakdown" model of social movements. Critical are:

the role of discontent in initiating social movements
the breakdown of authority in spurring social movements

His approach can be confusing because these two parts are really two distinct theories, not a single "breakdown" theory. But, both discontent and authority breakdown theories can be contrasted with a resource mobilization theory that he opposes.

Past evidence used to refute the breakdown theory

Useem gives a fairly good overview of the resource mobilization arguments that he is trying to refute:

grievances are widespread
inadequate resources are the main barrier to protest
struggles are usually well organized
no correlation of riots with other indicators of breakdown

Methods

What is Useem's data source? Are there any problems with this?

Results: the riot

Causes of the riot

Useem tries to review the facts of the New Mexico riot to support his breakdown theories and to refute the resource mobilization theory. What is the evidence about:

changes in prisoner discontent and the outbreak of the riot?
prisoner self-organization?
prisoner integration into prison life?
prison administration competence?

And, what is the connection between each piece of evidence and our theories explaining protest?

Consequences of the riot

What does Useem claim was the outcome of the riot from the prisoners' point of view?

Conclusions

What's your one-line summary of Useem's contribution?

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Last updated October 10, 2005

comments to: reeve@umd.edu