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resource mobilization theory

Definition of Resource Mobilization Theory

(noun) A theory of social movements, arguing that for movements to gain traction, they must acquire and successfully use (mobilize) resources to their advantage to achieve their goals.

Resource Mobilization Theory Pronunciation

Pronunciation Usage Guide

Syllabification: re·source mo·bi·li·za·tion the·o·ry

Audio Pronunciation

– American English
– British English

Phonetic Spelling

  • American English – /rEE-sors moh-buh-luh-zAY-shuhn thEE-uhr-ree/
  • British English – /ri-zAWs moh-bi-lie-zAY-shuhn thIUH-ree/

International Phonetic Alphabet

  • American English – /ˈrisɔrs ˌmoʊbələˈzeɪʃən ˈθiəri/
  • British English – /rɪˈsɔːs ˌməʊbɪlaɪˈzeɪʃən ˈθɪəri/

Usage Notes

  • Plural: resource mobilization theories
  • A type of theory.
  • Variant spellings:
    • resource mobilisation theory
    • resource-mobilisation theory
    • resource-mobilization theory

Additional Information

Related Terms


Works Consulted

Andersen, Margaret L., and Howard Francis Taylor. 2011. Sociology: The Essentials. 6th ed. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth.

Brinkerhoff, David, Lynn White, Suzanne Ortega, and Rose Weitz. 2011. Essentials of Sociology. 8th ed. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth.

Brym, Robert J., and John Lie. 2007. Sociology: Your Compass for a New World. 3rd ed. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth.

Ferris, Kerry, and Jill Stein. 2010. The Real World: An Introduction to Sociology. 2nd ed. New York: Norton.

Griffiths, Heather, Nathan Keirns, Eric Strayer, Susan Cody-Rydzewski, Gail Scaramuzzo, Tommy Sadler, Sally Vyain, Jeff Bry, Faye Jones. 2016. Introduction to Sociology 2e. Houston, TX: OpenStax.

Henslin, James M. 2012. Sociology: A Down-to-Earth Approach. 10th ed. Boston: Allyn & Bacon.

Kendall, Diana. 2011. Sociology in Our Times. 8th ed. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth.

Shepard, Jon M., and Robert W. Greene. 2003. Sociology and You. New York: Glencoe.

Stolley, Kathy S. 2005. The Basics of Sociology. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press.

Thompson, William E., and Joseph V. Hickey. 2012. Society in Focus: An Introduction to Sociology. 7th ed. Boston: Allyn & Bacon.

Tischler, Henry L. 2011. Introduction to Sociology. 10th ed. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth.

Wikipedia contributors. (N.d.) Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. (https://en.wikipedia.org/).

Cite the Definition of Resource Mobilization Theory

ASA – American Sociological Association (5th edition)

Bell, Kenton, ed. 2013. “resource mobilization theory.” In Open Education Sociology Dictionary. Retrieved April 26, 2024 (https://sociologydictionary.org/resource-mobilization-theory/).

APA – American Psychological Association (6th edition)

resource mobilization theory. (2013). In K. Bell (Ed.), Open education sociology dictionary. Retrieved from https://sociologydictionary.org/resource-mobilization-theory/

Chicago/Turabian: Author-Date – Chicago Manual of Style (16th edition)

Bell, Kenton, ed. 2013. “resource mobilization theory.” In Open Education Sociology Dictionary. Accessed April 26, 2024. https://sociologydictionary.org/resource-mobilization-theory/.

MLA – Modern Language Association (7th edition)

“resource mobilization theory.” Open Education Sociology Dictionary. Ed. Kenton Bell. 2013. Web. 26 Apr. 2024. <https://sociologydictionary.org/resource-mobilization-theory/>.