Meaning and Frame Resonance in the Linkage of Social Movement Groups - Comparing Three Mile Island and Fukushima

This study examines why some social movement groups successfully create linkage while other groups fail to do so. Past studies of the development and growth of social movements have provided an explanation from a view of structural and cultural factors. The former theory explains the linkage from existing organizations or networks; the latter employ such conceptual devices such as framing, emotions, collective identity, ideology, symbols, and themes. Comparing the anti-nuclear movement that occurred following the 1979 Three Mile Island nuclear power plant accident and the 2011 Fukushima nuclear power plant accident, this study explores the prerequisites and conditions with which multiple movement groups create linkages. In the 1979 campaign in the US there was a successful linkage between the national movement organizations and the local movement groups, whereas in the 2011 campaign in Japan, such linkage did not appear to be established. The results of the analysis suggest that a successful resonance of frames results in a linkage between movement groups. But for such resonance to occur I emphasize the importance of meaning. Frame resonance is necessary to establish the linkage across social movement groups, and to attain the resonance the convergence of meanings each participating group attribute to their activities is necessary in addition to conditions laid out by framing theory. Drawing on the understanding developed in the area of framing theory, I argue that the establishment of such a linkage heavily depends on the extent of frame resonance and that frame resonance is attained through the convergence of meanings attributed to the actions taken by respective movement organizations and groups.