Militias in the New Millennium A Test of Smelser's Theory of Collective Behavior

by Weeber, Stan; Rodeheaver, Daniel G.

• ISBN13: 9780761827894
• ISBN10: 0761827897
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2004-05-20
• Publisher: UPA

Summary

In Militias in the New Millennium, Stan Weeber and Daniel Rodeheaver examine the state of the U.S. citizen militia movement in the new millennium. Using Smelser's theory of collective behavior, the authors examine the causes, belief systems, and electronic presence of militias, and the efforts of social control agents to contain them.

Author Biography

Daniel G. Rodeheaver is Associate Professor of Sociology, University of North Texas.

Table of Contents

List of Tables	vii
Preface	ix
Acknowledgments	xi
Chapter 1 Introduction	1	(8)
Why Do Militias Appear?	2	(1)
Internet and the Rise of Citizen Militias	3	(1)
Defining Citizen Militias	4	(2)
Summary and Plan of the Book	6	(3)
Chapter 2 The Rise and Evolution of American Citizen Militias	9	(8)
Militias in the New Republic	10	(1)
Militias in the Early Modem Era	11	(3)
The Neo-Militia Movement of the 1990's	14	(2)
Summary	16	(1)
Chapter 3 Smelser's Theory of Collective Behavior	17	(10)
Smelser's Model	18	(4)
Criticisms of Smelser's Theory	22	(2)
Summary	24	(3)
Chapter 4 Testing Smelser's Theory: Data Sources and Sample Selection	27	(8)
Data Sources	28	(4)
Representativeness of the Sample	32	(1)
Summary	33	(2)
Chapter 5 Testing Smelser's Theory: Variables and Research Questions	35	(6)
Structural Strain	36	(1)
Generalized Beliefs	37	(1)
Precipitating Events	38	(1)
Mobilization for Action	38	(1)
Social Control	38	(1)
Ideological Orientation	39	(1)
Summary	39	(1)
Note	40	(1)
Chapter 6 Strain, Generalized Beliefs, and Precipitating Events	41	(10)
Structural Strain	42	(4)
Generalized Beliefs	46	(3)
Precipitating Events	49	(1)
Summary	50	(1)
Chapter 7 Mobilization, Social Control, and Ideological Orientations of the Militia Movement	51	(16)
Mobilization for Action	51	(2)
Social Control	53	(6)
Ideological Orientation	59	(5)
Summary	64	(3)
Chapter 8 Internet and Non-Internet-Based Militias: A Comparison	67	(8)
Differences between Groups	69	(1)
Comparisons along Smelser's Dimensions	70	(2)
Summary	72	(3)
Chapter 9 Conclusion	75	(8)
References	83	(12)
Appendices	95	(16)
Appendix A: A Note About USENET	96	(2)
Appendix B: Research Questions, Key Concepts, and Keywords for NUDIST Data Searches	98	(3)
Appendix C: Data Gathering Procedures	101	(2)
Appendix D: Coding of Militiamen and Women's Occupations	103	(1)
Appendix E: Coding Instructions for Research Questions	104	(7)
Structural Strain	104	(1)
Generalized Beliefs	105	(1)
Precipitating Events	106	(1)
Mobilization for Action	106	(1)
Social Control	107	(1)
Ideological Orientation	108	(3)
Index	111