ERIC Number: ED225886
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 1982-Apr
Pages: 23
Abstractor: N/A
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Mobilizing the Moral Majority.
Liebman, Robert C.
The Moral Majority has been more successful in mobilizing conservative Christians than three other evangelical groups--Third Century Publishers, Christian Voice, and the Religious Roundtable. According to the literature on social movements, four possible explanations for the success of such groups are that they have access to financial resources, can maintain an extensive network of communications between organizers and constituents, can draw upon the expertise and skills of social movement entrepreneurs, and can mobilize during a period in time in which there is a favorable conjunction of issues. None of these factors proves wholly satisfactory in accounting for differences among the four organizations in their mobilization of supporters. The Moral Majority was more successful because its leadership provided it with access to pre-existing networks which were unavailable to other Christian groups. For example, Jerry Falwell's "Old Time Gospel Hour" provided a communications link via television to a large national audience. The Moral Majority's genius lay in linking with a national network of conservative clergymen and in championing issues of major concern to this group. While taking advantage of these pre-existing associations, the Moral Majority did have to accommodate their previously organized constituencies. (RM)
Publication Type: Information Analyses
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A