Smelser's theory of collective behavior holds that people join radical social movements because they experience strain. Among the most serious strains are anxieties that relate to one's social status and the roles that correspond to it. A social movement arises as a means of coping with these anxieties. Militia presence and activity on the Internet (especially Usenet) is a phenomenon that can be studied within the framework of Smelser's theory. Militia watchers contend that those who join the militias have experienced the kinds of strain to which Smelser refers. A content analysis of Internet traffic of U.S. militias provides a test of the general thesis outlined above. By analyzing Internet sites it is possible to examine whether militiamen have experienced strain, and whether the strain, together with other factors, influence an individual's decision to join the militia. This dissertation was the first sociological study of American militias on the Internet and the first in which militias from all regions of the country was studied. Information was gathered on 171 militiamen who joined 28 militias. A qualitative analysis of militia web sites and Usenet traffic (n=1,189 online documents) yielded answers to seven research questions. Most militiamen studied experienced some form of stress or strain prior to joining the militia. Within this context, three generalized beliefs arose to help explain this stress among those militiamen. Bureau of Alcohol, Firearms and Tobacco (BATF) raids at Ruby Ridge, Idaho and Waco, Texas were mentioned most often as movement precipitants. Based on the militiamen studied, the militia movement was Internet-driven, although a number of alternative media played a joint role in movement mobilization. On the basis of the cases studied, increased social control following the Oklahoma City bombing affected the direction of the movement as many militias went underground. Yet, Usenet traffic by and about militiamen rose significantly. Constitutionalism was the primary philosophical orientation of the militias in this dissertation; however, Christian Identity militias were growing in number and visibility.

Made available in DSpace on 2015-05-14T12:23:13Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 arquivototal.pdf: 1676969 bytes, checksum: 9642c137c6f2b8119efffd12931c2a1a (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-03-27 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / This study is linked to the online research Regional History, the Graduate Program in History Federal University of Paraíba, with a major in History and Historical Culture, and aims to examine the creation and operation of the National Guard in the province of Paraiba (1831-1850). The creation of the National Guard, on August 18, 1831, was one among the various measures undertaken by the government regent, to ensure the unity of the national Brazilian state. This institution should be composed of those who were considered citizens of the Empire of Brazil, so they were prescribed in the Constitution of 1824. Therefore, besides investigating the creation of this institution in the province of Paraiba, we present the procedures involving its organization and functioning, as well as legal profiles / Ethnic some characters that composed their ranks. We will also provide a brief discussion of citizenship in the nineteenth century, shedding light on how this citizenship was experienced by militiamen in the province because, to them, fell the privilege of being part of the militia. We will review the daily actions of the missionaries of the order and attempts to find some guards to escape the ordinary service of the Guard - which, contrary to what had just tried the Act creating the National Guard from 1831: the "patriotism" of his militia. And when it comes to positions of command in the militia, will discuss the importance of this position gave the chosen, and over the years has become highly political. / O presente estudo está vinculado à linha de pesquisa História Regional, do Programa de Pós-Graduação em História, da Universidade Federal da Paraíba, com área de concentração em História e Cultura Histórica, e tem por objetivo analisar a criação e atuação da Guarda nacional na província da Paraíba (1831-1850). A criação da Guarda Nacional, em 18 de agosto de 1831, foi uma dentre as várias medidas empreendidas pelo governo regencial, para assegurar a unidade do Estado nacional brasileiro. Essa instituição deveria ser composta por aqueles que fossem considerados cidadãos do Império do Brasil, portanto, que estivessem prescritos na Constituição de 1824. Portanto, além de investigar a criação dessa instituição na província da Paraíba, apresentamos os trâmites que envolveram a sua organização e funcionamento, bem como os perfis jurídico/étnico de alguns personagens que compuseram suas fileiras. Fizemos também uma breve discussão sobre Cidadania no século XIX, lançando luz sobre como essa cidadania foi vivenciada pelos milicianos na província, já que, a eles, coube o privilégio de fazer parte da milícia. Analisamos as ações cotidianas dos missionários da ordem e as tentativas que alguns guardas encontraram para escaparem do serviço ordinário da Guarda - o que, acabava contrariando aquilo que pretendia a Lei de criação da Guarda Nacional de 1831: o patriotismo de seus milicianos. E no que tange aos postos de comando na milícia, discutimos a importância que este cargo conferiu aos escolhidos, e que, com os anos se tornou eminentemente político.