Leadership Dynamics in Social Movements: Examining the Impact on Collective Action Framing and Mobilisation Strategies

The proposed PhD study seeks to address a significant gap in social movement theory by exploring the nuanced relationship between leadership changes and the evolution of collective action frames within the Nation of Islam (NOI). The research focuses on leaders such as Elijah Muhammad, Malcolm X, Louis Farrakhan, and Warith Deen Mohammed,

examining their distinct roles and the impact of their leadership on framing strategies and mobilisation outcomes. The study employs a mixed-methods research design, incorporating archival research, discourse analysis, and interviews to triangulate evidence and discern the contributions of structural context, leadership agency, and

organisational changes to framing evolution. By adopting both most-similar and most-different comparison approaches, the research aims to isolate key variables and enhance the understanding of how leadership dynamics shape framing processes. The proposed study not only contributes to the field of social movement theory but also

sheds light on the active role of leaders in framing dynamics, emphasizing the need to move beyond the structural bias prevalent in existing literature. Under the mentorship of Professor Jeroen Gunning at King's College London, the study aims to make significant strides in frame analysis, particularly concerning leadership, offering

valuable insights into the complex interplay between leadership changes, framing strategies, and mobilisation outcomes within social movements.