Sage Journals: Discover world-class research

Abstract

Greenpeace U.S.A. is unique among environmental organizations in the United States. While it is one of the wealthiest and largest membership groups in the environmental movement, its organization and political strategies are quite different from those employed by the more mainstream groups such as the Sierra Club or the National Wildlife Federation. Its status as a new social movement is evaluated on four dimensions: ideology, motivations to participate, organizational structure, and political structure. Greenpeace U.S.A. exhibits characteristics of both new and old social movements and is thus classified as an organizational hybrid. Today, the organization struggles with several challenges. In two decades, it has grown to become part of the largest worldwide environmental network. Greenpeace U.S.A. must decide on the proper mix of old and new methods to continue its mission into the next century.

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

1. Peter Dykstra , “Institution: Greenpeace,” Environment, 28(6):5 (July-Aug. 1986). Used by permission of Heldref Publications.

2. Tom Horton , “The Green Giant,” Rolling Stone, 5 Sept. 1991, p. 44. © By Tom Horton From Rolling Stone, September 5, 1991. By Straight Arrow Publishers, Inc. 1991. All Rights Reserved. Reprinted by Permission.

3. John DeMont , “Frontline Fighters,” Maclean's, 16 Dec. 1991, p. 47. Reprinted by permission.

4. Dykstra , “Institutions: Greenpeace,” p. 5. Used by permission of Heldref Publications.

5. Michael Brown , “The Zeal of Disapproval,” Oceans, 20:41 (May-June 1987).

6. Leslie Spencer , “The Not So Peaceful World of Greenpeace,” Forbes, 11 Nov. 1991, p. 174. Reprinted by permission.

7. Bob Ostertag , “Greenpeace Takes Over the World,” Mother Jones, 16:84 (Mar.-Apr. 1991).

8. Russell J. Dalton , Manfred Kuechler , and Wilhelm Bucklin , “The Challenge of New Movements,” in Challenging the Political Order, ed. Russell J. Dalton and Manfred Kuechler (New York: Oxford University Press, 1990), pp. 6-16.

9. Personal interview, Peter Bahouth, Executive Director, Greenpeace U.S.A., Washington, DC, 21 July 1992.

10.

10. Ibid.

11.

11. Personal interview, Blair Palese, Media Director, Greenpeace U.S.A., Washington, DC, 22 July 1992.

12.

12. Michael Harwood , “Daredevils for the Environment,” New York Times Magazine, 2 Oct. 1988, p. 76. Reprinted by permission.

13.

13. Ibid.

14.

14. Spencer , “Not So Peaceful World of Greenpeace,” p. 179.

15.

15. Susan Rouder , “Mobilization by Mail,” Citizen Participation, (Sept.-Oct. 1980), p. 4.

16.

16. Spencer , “Not So Peaceful World of Greenpeace,” p. 179.

17.

17. Personal interview, Vicky Monrean, Membership Development, Greenpeace U.S.A., Washington, DC, 29 June 1988.

18.

18. Personal interview, Bahouth.

19.

19. R. Kenneth Godwin , One Billion Dollars of Influence: The Direct Marketing of Politics (Chatham, NJ: Chatham House, 1988), p. 48.

20.

20. Ronaleen R. Roha , “Giving Back,” Changing Times, 44:107 (Nov. 1990).

21.

21. Ronald G. Shaiko , “More Bang for the Buck: The New Era of Full-Service Public Interest Organizations,” in Interest Group Politics, 3d ed., ed. Allan J. Cigler and Burdett A. Loomis (Washington, DC: Congressional Quarterly Press, 1991), pp. 117-123.

22.

22. Bernard Ohanian , “Fighting That Bushed Feeling,” Mother Jones, 14:49 (Jan. 1989).

23.

23. Steve Rabey , “Remembering the Jesus Movement,” Christianity Today, 22 Nov. 1985, p. 53.

24.

Christopher Manes , Green Rage: Radical Environmentalism and the Unmaking of Civilization (Boston: Little, Brown, 1990), pp. 175-190.

25.

25. James Taylor , “Only a Dream in Rio” (Country Road Music, Inc., 1985).

26.

26. Personal interview, Dean Tousley, Staff Member, U.S., Congress, House, Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs, Subcommittee on Energy and the Environment, Washington, DC, 19 July 1992.

27.

27. Personal interview, Shelley Fidler, Senior Staff Member, U.S., Congress, House, Committee on Energy and Commerce, Sub-committee on Energy and Power, Washington, DC, 18 July 1992.

28.

28. Ostertag , “Greenpeace Takes Over the World,” p. 85.

29.

29. Personal interview, Bahouth.

30.

30. Personal interview, Palese.

31.

31. David Roe , Dynamos and Virgins (New York: Random House, 1984), p. 186.

32.

32. Personal interview, William Turnage, former executive director, Wilderness Society, Washington, DC, 25 Oct. 1986.

Greenpeace U.S.A.: Something Old,New,Borrowed

Abstract

Get full access to this article

References