Collective action theory indicates that individuals will automatically act collectively to achieve their goals whenever they share common interests (such as wanting to listen to NPR, protect environmental resources, or promote democracy).

Question

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Collective action theory suggests that individuals may face obstacles to acting collectively, such as free-riding (benefiting from the collective action without contributing to it) or coordination problems (difficulty in organizing group action). Therefore, collective action is not automatic, but requires strategic efforts to overcome these obstacles.

Collective Action Theory Indicates That Individuals Will Automatically Act Collectively