De l'objet de la definition a la definition de l'objet. De quoi traite finalement la sociologie des mouvements sociaux?

In: Politique et sociétés, Band 28, Heft 1, S. 15-36

Abstract

Based on the fact that the definition of what one usually defines as a social movement is not consensual in the literature, the author discusses the question of the perimeter of the field of studies of social movement. By so doing, he addresses the question of the construction of the object. The aim of the paper is by no way to offer one additional definition of what is to be considered as a social movement, but instead to propose an exercise of epistemological vigilance showing that current definitions can generate a certain amount of dead angles. After a brief overview of the state of the art, the paper addresses three questions: Can social movements be defined by their orientation towards change and, if so, what kind of change? Can social movements be defined by the type of actors concerned and, if so, who are these actors? Can social movements be defined by their modes of action and, if so, what are these modes of action? Adapted from the source document.