Social Movements Lashing Back: Law, Social Change and Intra-Social Movement Backlash in Canada

41 Pages Posted: 19 Jul 2010 Last revised: 11 Aug 2010

See all articles by Lisa Vanhala

Lisa Vanhala

Centre for Socio-Legal Studies

Date Written: 2010

Abstract

Introducing the concept of intra-social movement backlash this article explores the ‘legacy phase’ of legal action focusing on conflicts and debates within a social movement that has mobilized. Using a legal mobilization framework attuned to the recursive relationship between rights, rights-claiming activities and collective identity the article analyzes the mixed legacies of movement strategic litigation. Empirically, the paper offers two illustrative case studies of intra-movement backlash in the women’s and the disability rights movements in Canada. The findings suggest that while this form of backlash can have negative, disempowering effects it also offers opportunities to challenge hegemonic structures within a social movement and re-imagine collective identities.

Keywords: Legal mobilization, backlash

Suggested Citation

Vanhala, Lisa, Social Movements Lashing Back: Law, Social Change and Intra-Social Movement Backlash in Canada (2010). APSA 2010 Annual Meeting Paper, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1643576

Lisa Vanhala (Contact Author)

Centre for Socio-Legal Studies ( email )

Mansfield Road
Oxford, Oxfordshire OX1 4AU
United Kingdom

Do you have a job opening that you would like to promote on SSRN?

Paper statistics

Downloads
225
Abstract Views
994
Rank
288,290
PlumX Metrics