Abstract
The article examines types of role strategies utilized by police to gain control over perceived oppositional group activity. Literature in the area of formal organizations and police structures are viewed as deficient in terms of examining the combined effect of presenting multiple images of an organization to an oppositional group. Boundary-spanning roles are conceptualized as varying in terms of discretion, penetration and secrecy. Data from the 1976 Republican Convention are used to identify four types of boundary-spanning roles utilized to gain control over demonstrator activity. While each of these roles served an important control function, in combination the roles presented an inconsistent and contradictory image of the police to demonstrators. The effect of this strategy was to create confusion in the strategies and tactics of the oppositional group.
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Partial support for this research was obtained through an L.E.A.A. grant, “Evaluation of the 1976 Republican National Convention,” awarded to Midwest Research Institute (MRI). Patricia E. Erickson and James Flynn were employed as consultants to MRI for the grant period. Special thanks are extended to Bruce B. Morgan who served as project director.
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Erickson, P.E., Flynn, J. Police control during a national political convention: A four perimeter strategy. Qual Sociol 3, 272–298 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00987329
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00987329