Mayer Zald

Co-developed with John D. McCarthy, the resource mobilization approach argues that social movements succeed or fail based on their ability to gather and deploy resources like money, labor, and media access. This theory shifted the focus of social movement studies away from collective grievances and toward the organizational mechanics of how movements actually function.

Mayer N. Zald was an American sociologist who lived from 1931 to 2012. He spent the majority of his highly influential career teaching at the University of Michigan, where he helped establish its reputation in organizational sociology.

Before becoming famous for social movement theory, Zald conducted detailed historical research on organizational behavior, particularly studying the YMCA. He analyzed how the organizational structure of the YMCA adapted (or failed to adapt) to changing social environments over time.

Prior to resource mobilization theory in the 1970s, scholars largely believed that social movements arose spontaneously from mass psychological frustration. Zald argued instead that movements are highly organized, rational entities that rely on professional leadership and strategic fundraising.