The Influence of Collective Action: A Relational Perspective on the Consequences of Social Movements and Grassroots Politics

Social movements aim to influence their reality, qualifying as mediators of change by creating, disrupting, and reshaping the relational patterns of societies. Isolating their effects has always been a challenge, even more complex at times when societal struggles become increasingly wicked. Building on this assumption, the present contribution advocates for a shift in perspective, moving away from success or outcome perspectives, in favor of an influence framework of the consequences of collective action. The article builds on existing literature to show how studies in the field have already reflected on the ways in which collective actors intervene in transforming the relational preconditions of social change, even when refraining from defining their approach as relational. The review revolves around the concept of influence, as already defined in the existent literature, to advocate for a shift in perspective that will allow scholars to (i) investigate the strategies through which collective actors secure positions of influence in the broader relational structure, (ii) understand the indirect influence that actors may exert by changing the structure of relations in society, (iii) map the joint influence exerted by collective actors, understanding social transactions as primary resources to co-participate in processes of change.