 Devashree Gupta, Selective Engagement and Its Consequences for Social Movement Organizations: Lessons from British Policy in Northern Ireland How do governments respond to the demands of different social movement organizations? They respond selectively, embracing some movement groups as acceptable bargaining partners, while sidelining or repressing others. Thus, they create uneven political opportunity structures that prompt organizations to pursue divergent protest strategies. Selective engagement is a double-edged sword. Groups that forge a closer relationship with state actors can benefit from increased access, but they also face shorter time horizons to deliver change and risk alienating their members. Over time, these side effects can minimize the worth of ¡°desirable¡± groups to governments, while making it possible for organizations previously left out of the process to increase their clout and demand entry. |