Abstract
After twenty years of resource mobilization theory, the lack of systematic, empirical analyses of organizational diversity within and across social movement organizations (SMOs) remains an ironic weakness in the research literature. Survey data from a stratified, nationally representative sample of U.S. groups working for peace enables the demographic diversity, internal operations, and external relations of peace movement organizations (PMOs) to be described. Furthermore, a reliable scale of semiformal organizational structure capable of capturing empirically the range of SMO forms from named groups with a completely informal structure to a threshold of minimally formal structure is developed. Multiple regression analysis examines the relations between semiformal structures and aspects of PMO demographics, internal operations, and external relations. Formal structure among PMOs was found to be associated with surpassing threshold levels of budgetary size and, beneath that rather low $30,000 per year threshold, with increasingbudgetary size. Participation pressures as indicated by increased membership, staff size, and voluntarism failed to predict the presence of formal structure. Results are consistent with SMO adoption of culturally legitimate organizational templates and with state efforts to manage citizen protest through the tax code.
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