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2

Theoretical Perspectives on
Technology Protests

Both sides, in each of the challenges to modern incinerator projects that are
analyzed in this book, claimed to be operating in the public's best interests.
While we try to be evenhanded in analyzing these conflicts, our primary
focus is on the grassroots protests as viewed through the lenses of contem-
porary'social movement theory and environmental sociology. 1 A selective
summary of the evolution of social movement theory in recent decades pro-
vides a useful background for understanding our theoretical perspectives.


What Is a Social Movement?

Movements of various political stripes have become increasingly common in
the United States in recent decades. African Americans, Native Americans,

____________________
1 For more of an industry perspective on the same general topic, see Curlee et al.,
1994, a book that came to our attention as we were completing this one. Although it
focuses primarily upon aggregate social and economic indicators, rather than on the ac-
tual dynamics of specific grassroots struggles, it is interesting to see some surprising simi-
larities in conclusions about processes and outcomes arrived at via their "top down" and

-35-

Questia, a part of Gale, Cengage Learning. www.questia.com

Publication Information: Book Title: Don't Burn It Here: Grassroots Challenges to Trash Incinerators. Contributors: Edward J. Walsh - author, Rex Warland - author, D. Clayton Smith - author. Publisher: Pennsylvania State University Press. Place of Publication: University Park, PA. Publication Year: 1997. Page Number: 35.
    
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