Motivations for Participating in the Movement

Abstract

This chapter examines the reasons why Muslims decided to participate in the alter-globalisation movement and the ‘supply and demand’ factors related to this (Klandermans 2004). It is therefore a study of the micro-mobilisation context, the settings ‘in which processes of collective attribution combined with rudimentary forms of organization produce mobilization for collective action’ (McAdam 1988: 134). Sometimes, mobilisation is facilitated by membership of pre-existent political groups such as unions; in other occasions, it may be the result of friendship or other informal networks. Examining the biographical experiences of the activists in this study will allow us to understand why they decided to participate in the movement. This forms part of the demand side, and the first section of this chapter therefore looks at the social and political background of the Muslim activists who became involved in the GJM and how this compares with other activists in the movement. Personal experiences may, however, not suffice in order to explain the development of what Doug McAdam calls an ‘insurgent consciousness’. External influences may also be required and the second section looks at some of the potential intellectual inspiration produced by Muslim thinkers who have attempted to encourage Muslims to participate in movements for social change such as the GJM (supply side).