The Paradigm of Collective Identity: Rethinking Social Movements

Abstract

his article analyzes the stance and contributions of the Italian sociologist Alberto Melucci (1943 - 2001), who has set himself the arduous task of defining —in a modern social context— how collective identity is constructed. From a constructivist notion, Melucci’s theory of social movements takes on the challenge of understanding the complexity of accelerated social movements, the making of collective action, and the reasons why individuals choose to get involved in it, to then become part of that community.

But how does the process of choosing a group take place outside the traditional approach of collective phenomena? This research aims to identify, based on Melucci’s contributions, and hand in hand with concepts such as culture, cultural identity, and collective action, the key processes involved in this decision.