Rhetoric,division and constraint: elements in local social mobilisation

The paper is a speculative discussion of the relative saliency of communal rhetoric in instances of local social mobilisation. Despite several recent studies of local collective action, there remains considerable uncertainty as to when - and why - values exphasising local distinctiveness and superiority find assertion amongst groups at the community level. By detailing the activities of residents associations and organized amenity groups in one setting, I suggest that the saliency of communal imagery is closely associated with constraints facing local leaders in mobilising and sustaining their support. Where leadership interests are well established, yet must base their legitimacy in appeal to pluralistic sources of local support, the celebration of communal identity is pronounced and pervades local collective action. The declaration of communal unity then, marks the existence of elites for whom such sentiments are advantageous. This point suggests a re-examination of Coleman's earlier analysis of community conflict as revealing distinctive organisational dynamics, rapid issue elaboration and vilification between protagonist interests. I argue that these processes themselves reflect deeper patterns in local social organisation; the exigencies of local leader - follower relationships.