When Will Stakeholder Groups Act? An Interest- and Identity-Based Model of Stakeholder Group Mobilization

Abstract

Using social movement and social identity theories, we construct a model of stakeholder group action that challenges the current notion that interests drive stakeholder group action. We argue that interests do not easily translate into action, mobilization can be motivated by a desire to express an identity as well as protect interests, and overlapping (similar) memberships across multiple stakeholder groups affect stakeholder group action. As a result, we develop several propositions based on our elaboration of interest-based action and inclusion of identity-based action.