Thesis (M. Soc. Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 1994. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves [127]-133).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Minnesota, 1994. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 293-307).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 2006. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 132-142).

Thesis (M.Soc.Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 1994. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves [127]-133). Also available in print.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of California, San Diego, 2006. / Title from first page of PDF file (viewed Mar. 1, 2006). Available via ProQuest Digital Dissertations. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (p. 608-622).

xv, 277 p. A print copy of this title is available from the UO Libraries, under the call number: SCIENCE TP1180.V48 V46 2007 / This dissertation examines the political, scientific, social, environmental, and health debates surrounding the use of polyvinyl chloride (commonly called vinyl), a plastic many public health advocates and activists contend has a toxic lifecycle with deleterious human and ecological impacts at every stage. Using extensive documentary research and in-depth interviews, I answer a basic question: how and why have major stakeholders politicized PVC in recent decades? I find the strength of the anti-PVC movement lies largely in its broad based constituency: it includes professionals within the health care and green building industries, as well as labor unions and environmental health advocates. However, I raise critical questions about the movement's strategy of situating itself as a market-based movement where limited analysis is given to the greater environmental and health impacts of the health care and building industries as a whole. / Adviser: Gregory McLauchlan

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / O que é o ciberativismo? Como compreender o fenômeno? Há uma grande variedade de disciplinas e abordagens teóricas que tem se debruçado sobre o tema, gerando uma diversidade de ferramentas analíticas e estudos empíricos sobre aspectos específicos da prática; mas, ao mesmo tempo, uma dificuldade de diálogo entre as interpretações e perspectivas teóricas. Faz-se necessário, assim, uma reflexão que permita pensar esse campo de discussão de forma mais abrangente. Tomando como pressuposto que a dimensão comunicativa não é nova para os movimentos sociais, mas que o ciberativismo, como tal, pressupõe uma nova inflexão, este trabalho propõe um duplo esforço para compreender como as NTICs impactam a ação coletiva. Por um lado, busca-se realizar uma análise de caráter histórico que permita identificar a centralidade da dimensão comunicativa nas práticas dos movimentos sociais; por outro lado, propõe-se tecer uma interpretação de viés teórico que possibilite resgatar alguns eixos de análise das Teorias dos Movimentos Sociais (repertórios de ação, organização e dinâmicas de difusão), de tal forma que ferramentas analíticas possam ser atualizadas para o entendimento da ação coletiva contemporânea. / What is cyberactivism? How to understand the phenomenon? Different theoretical approaches from several areas have devoted attention to the this topic, generating a variety of analytical tools and empirical studies about specific aspects of its practice; at the same time this has generated a difficulty of dialogue between the theoretical interpretations and perspectives. Therefore it is necessary a reflection that allows us to think this field of discussion more broadly. Under the assumptions that the communicative dimension of cyberactivism is not new to social movements but it presupposes a new inflection as such, this paper proposes a twofold effort to understand how ICT (Information and communications technologies) impact collective action. On the one hand the proposal seeks to conduct a historical analysis which allows us to identify the centrality of communicative dimensions in the practices of social movements; on the other hand, it is proposed an interpretation of a theoretical framework that makes possible to rescue some guidelines of Theories of Social Movements (repertoires of action, organization and dynamics of diffusion), so that analytical tools can be upgraded to the understanding of contemporary collective action.

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / O que é o ciberativismo? Como compreender o fenômeno? Há uma grande variedade de disciplinas e abordagens teóricas que tem se debruçado sobre o tema, gerando uma diversidade de ferramentas analíticas e estudos empíricos sobre aspectos específicos da prática; mas, ao mesmo tempo, uma dificuldade de diálogo entre as interpretações e perspectivas teóricas. Faz-se necessário, assim, uma reflexão que permita pensar esse campo de discussão de forma mais abrangente. Tomando como pressuposto que a dimensão comunicativa não é nova para os movimentos sociais, mas que o ciberativismo, como tal, pressupõe uma nova inflexão, este trabalho propõe um duplo esforço para compreender como as NTICs impactam a ação coletiva. Por um lado, busca-se realizar uma análise de caráter histórico que permita identificar a centralidade da dimensão comunicativa nas práticas dos movimentos sociais; por outro lado, propõe-se tecer uma interpretação de viés teórico que possibilite resgatar alguns eixos de análise das Teorias dos Movimentos Sociais (repertórios de ação, organização e dinâmicas de difusão), de tal forma que ferramentas analíticas possam ser atualizadas para o entendimento da ação coletiva contemporânea. / What is cyberactivism? How to understand the phenomenon? Different theoretical approaches from several areas have devoted attention to the this topic, generating a variety of analytical tools and empirical studies about specific aspects of its practice; at the same time this has generated a difficulty of dialogue between the theoretical interpretations and perspectives. Therefore it is necessary a reflection that allows us to think this field of discussion more broadly. Under the assumptions that the communicative dimension of cyberactivism is not new to social movements but it presupposes a new inflection as such, this paper proposes a twofold effort to understand how ICT (Information and communications technologies) impact collective action. On the one hand the proposal seeks to conduct a historical analysis which allows us to identify the centrality of communicative dimensions in the practices of social movements; on the other hand, it is proposed an interpretation of a theoretical framework that makes possible to rescue some guidelines of Theories of Social Movements (repertoires of action, organization and dynamics of diffusion), so that analytical tools can be upgraded to the understanding of contemporary collective action.

No description available.

In this paper, new social movements in France and West Germany are compared in terms of their supporters, and in terms of certain elements of the political and administrative conditions which they are confronting. On the basis of survey data from 1982, specific attributes of supporters of new social movements (socio-demographic characteristics, value orientations, and attitudes) are highlighted which distinguish them from the average of the population. While broad similarities exist between supporters in both countries, the new social movements in France appear to be less distinct from mainstream society than their West German counterparts. The examination of the political and administrative conditions focuses on the centralization/decentralization of the State, and the party and electoral system in France and the Federal Republic. A decentralized system is argued to offer, on the whole, more favorable conditions for the protest movements. Also the West German party system, and the West German electoral mechanisms have helped the new social movements east of the Rhine. / M.A.