title: Overcoming movement obstacles by the religiously orthodox: the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt, Shas in Israel, Comunione e Liberazione in Italy, and the Salvation Army in the United States.
abstract: This article examines four movements of the religiously orthodox that should have failed according to most social movement theory and research. The movements combine (1) an extraordinarily broad agenda, (2) a strict, morally absolutist ideology, and (3) a strong proscription against compromise with other groups, each of which has been identified as a liability that can lead to movement failure. Through inductive, qualitative analyses, the authors identify four shared strategies that helped these movements overcome these obstacles: bypassing the state, building grassroots structures, providing graduated membership, and reprioritizing agendas. Analyses of these movements also suggest that particular combinations of movement "liabilities" may actually be advantageous.
authors.affiliation: Department of Sociology and Anthropology, 331 Asbury Hall, DePauw University, Greencastle, Indiana 46135, USA. ndavis@depauw.edu
authors.forename: Nancy J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.forename: Robert V
authors.initials: RV
authors.lastname: Robinson
mesh_terms: D002835:Christianity / Q000266:history; D004534:Egypt; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D007514:Islam / Q000266:history; D007557:Israel; D007558:Italy; D007599:Judaism / Q000266:history; D009937:Organizational Objectives; D012067:Religion / Q000266:history*; D012922:Social Change / Q000266:history*; D014481:United States