Deviance and Entrepreneurship in Peace
Movement Organizations
Tamir Magal
School of Political Science, Haifa University, pooh@inss.org.il
Research Questions
Abstract
Resistance to dominant cultural hegemony requires advocating alternative and deviant
beliefs, which challenge the dominant, taken for granted societal repertoire. This is
especially difficult in the context of intractable conflict, where societal beliefs
regarding the ethos of conflict pertain to the very existence and safety of society
members. This paper seeks to explicate the organizational variables which motivate
societal entrepreneurs to exhibit higher level of dissent towards established societal
beliefs, and to explain the differences in levels of dissent between similar peace
organizations. The paper compares organizational variables and level of dissent in
two Israeli peace organizations.
Introduction
Societies involved in intractable conflict develop a repertoire of societal beliefs, or ethos, to help cope with
the conflict. These ethos beliefs become prevalent in public discourse and are used as legitimizing beliefs
in political debates (Gamson, 1988). Under certain circumstances, these beliefs may acquire a central and
prominent position within public life, as to grant them hegemonic qualities.
Why are some peace organizations more dissentive then others?
Why some organizations exhibit higher levels of dissent, while others
exhibit a lower level-of-dissent?
What may account for these variations in level of dissent?
organizational variables account for these variations?
Research Design
Comparative study of organizational variables in two Israeli peace
organizations – Peace Now (PN), and Peace bloc (PB).
Qualitative content analysis of interviews and organizational
documents.
The sample includes over 1,000 documents and publications from
two peace organizations. Augmented by interviews with prominent
activists.
Units of analysis include statements regarding reputation
prominence, vocational role, and mobilization strategies.
The dominant and hegemonic position of the ethos of conflict within society’s culture helps perpetuate the
conflict, and renders these beliefs very resistant to change. Therefore, the ethos serve as a barrier towards
possible peaceful resolution of the conflict.
Processes of political and ideational change often require social entrepreneur groups, which seek to
challenge dominant elites and the ideological ethos which they support. Such a challenge entails
espousing alternative beliefs and expressing political attitudes which deviate or dissent from the common
consensus within society
Peace organizations are an example of such social entrepreneurs. These organization seek to challenge
government’s policies and change the public discourse regarding the inter-group conflict.
Dissent
Political dissent: act of political opposition, preformed by politically marginalized groups which are excluded
from mainstream political institutions (Sparks, 1997). Political dissent is viewed as legitimate as long as it
conforms to prevalent social norms (Horowitz and Liebowitz, 1968).
Political deviance: challenging or oppositional acts which are perceived as contradicting prevalent social
norms. A deviant label legitimizes acts of political repression by other groups or by state institutions
(Davenport, 1995; Regan and Henderson, 2002).
Dissent can be seen as a scale, between political consensus and a de-legitimized position of deviance.
Puzzle
Results
Vocational Role: Peace Now adopted a relatively conservative
“Rallying” role, while Peace Bloc adopted a more radical “Agitating”
role:
“Our role is to ‘breach the fence’, to make a stand on a
certain issue, which is considered radical and unpopular, so
that other, much bigger organizations, may follow our lead
until this position will become consensual. “ (Peace Bloc)
Reputation prominence: reputation prominence issues figured in
many of Peace Now decisions, while Peace Bloc emphasised the
need public influence over reputation management.
“Even when you’re being attacked it’s a success. It’s better to
be attacked then to be ignored.” (Peace Bloc)
Mobilization strategies: Peace Now’s strategy of mobilizing
participation of diversified constituencies, resulted in a diluting of its
political attitudes towards a common dominator. Whereas, Peace
Bloc’s strategy of changing attitudes, maintained its clear and critical
political attitudes.
Given the same political and societal condition, why were some
peace organization more daring then others in their degree of
challenge towards the common repertoire of ethos of conflict?
Measuring Dissent
Conclusion
level of dissent is the degree of divergence between an
espoused alternative belief and the societal belief it seeks to
challenge.
The scale is contrasting level of challenge with public opinion
support for an alternative belief. The lower the public support,
the higher the level of dissent is.
Changes in vocational role, reputation prominence, and
mobilization tactics were correlated with changes in level of
dissent.
Vocational Role
Activists’ perceptions regarding the unique role of their
organization in realizing its vision and contributing to the
fulfillment of common good.
Reputation Prominence
Centrality of image and reputation considerations in
organizational decision-making process.
Antecedents of Dissent
There seams to be a division of labour between peace
organizations; with the more radical organizations creating public
awareness, while the more conservative organizations mobilizing
constituencies into actions of protest.
Vocational Role
Reputation
Prominence
Mobilization
Strategies
Mobilization Strategies
Strategies employed by the organization in order to diversify its constituency. Diverse
political participation is seen as a sign of strong legitimization and social capital.
Vocational role and mobilization strategies have a stronger effect
on the expressed political attitudes, while reputation prominence
have a grater effect on protest tactics and actions.
Variations
in Level of
Dissent
Future research should explore the effects of this division of labour,
as well as the effect of different level of dissent on public
acceptance and legitimacy for alternative beliefs.