Final answer:
Resource mobilization refers to a social movement's ability to acquire resources (time and money) and mobilize people to achieve its goals, as exemplified by the Civil Rights Movement.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term resource mobilization refers to the process by which social movements succeed by acquiring resources and mobilizing individuals. According to McCarthy and Zald (1977), resources, including time and money, are pivotal in enhancing the power of organized movements. Resource mobilization is evident in various historical events such as the Civil Rights Movement, demonstrating its importance in societal change.
Activities within the civil rights movement demonstrate resource mobilization theory in action, where the collective effort of individuals, their time, and financial support led to significant societal shifts. The movement succeeded in part because of its ability to gather resources and strategically utilize them to foster change, as seen with the Montgomery bus boycott that occurred following Rosa Parks' arrest.
Resistance movements and revolutionary movements also reflect aspects of resource mobilization by seeking to either prevent change or overhaul societal structures, underlining the role of resource management in social movement dynamics.