Possibility and Prospects of Using the Situational Approach in the Analysis of the Collective Social Actio

Abstract

Possibility of using the situational approach in research of collective social action as an event that occurs in a particular situation is proved. It is emphasized that in the situational approach there is focus on situational differences of certain collective social actions, as well as the differences inherent to the same kind of collective social action in different socio-cultural conditions of its actualization. It is noted that the main condition for the effective application of the situational approach to the study of collective social action is the ability to analyse the specific situation in which these actions occur. It is noted that the practical importance of the use of situational approach to the interpretation of collective social action is that the results can be used to model such actions taking into account the dynamics of the situations in which they are deployed. Prospects and peculiarities of using the situational approach in the study of collective actions are shown by the example of volunteerism as a public-oriented collective social action. Differences of volunteering in different social situations are accentuated, particularly in peace (for example, volunteers of Euro 2012) and during the war (for example, volunteers who help Ukrainian army). There are exponents, according to which a comparative analysis of these differences has been carried out, namely the selection criteria of volunteer movement participants; technology for their selection; social composition of volunteer groups; division of labour between the volunteers; status and self-organization; system of training volunteers; volunteers’ interaction with government agencies; forms, types and ways to volunteer social services. It is proved that this or that social situation creates differences in mobilizing members of certain collective actions.