Signals or Mixed Signals: Why Opportunities for Mobilization are not Opportunities for Policy Reform

Keywords

political opportunity theory, legislative logic, political mediation theory, political environment

Abstract

Drawing on political opportunity theory, the theory of legislative logic, and political mediation theory, we hypothesize differential effects of the political environment on the actions of challengers (suffragists) and state actors (legislators) in the women’s suffrage movement. We use sequential logistic regression to assess the effects of explanatory variables on two intermediate stages of mobilization and policy change. In the case of challengers, we estimate the likelihood a state-level organization is present in any given legislative year. In the case of state actors, we estimate the likelihood a bill passes one legislative house given the presence of a state-level suffrage organization and that a bill has been introduced. Mixed signals are apparent in that challengers and legislators respond to the same environmental factors differently. Challengers respond to perceived opportunities for change. Legislators seek to enhance their political careers and are responsive to the demands of challengers when they perceive challengers as politically powerful or when social and cultural change signals a demand for policy reform. Legislators, in the end, are much more conservative in their response to the political context

Original Publication Citation

Marie Cornwall, Brayden G King, Elizabeth M. Legerski, Eric C. Dahlin, and Kendra S. Schiffman. 2007. “Signals or Mixed Signals: Why Opportunity for Mobilization Does Not Translate into Opportunity for Policy Reform.” Mobilization 12:239-254.

Document Type

Peer-Reviewed Article

Publication Date

2007

Permanent URL

http://hdl.lib.byu.edu/1877/5510

Publisher

Mobilization

Language

English

College

Family, Home, and Social Sciences

Department

Sociology

University Standing at Time of Publication

Full Professor

Link to Full Text

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