THE SEEDS OF PROTEST - FROM ELITE INITIATION TO GRASS-ROOTS MOBILIZATION

The article reports the findings of our case study of a social movement organization opposed to the pollution of a river by a paper mill. Using data from participant-observation and archival sources, we analyze the relationship between elites and non-elites in this community mobilization. We find that: (1) mobilization was inhibited for 80 years because of the economic oppression of the region: (2) when a movement organization finally emerged, it was initiated by elites who resisted grassroots membership in order to control movement goals and protect their own economic interests, and (3) the elite-sponsored organization declined because of internal conflict but generated a new, grassroots organization. Based on our analysis, we conclude that protest and quiescence are cycles in the interaction of elites and non-elites that reflect social class conflict.