ABSTRACT
This chapter attempts to help fill the gap through a case study of animal rights activism in Poland. It shows that the Polish animal rights movement mainly engages in forms of contention different from traditional protest activity: it pursues judicial activism, educational work, and Internet activism. The chapter shows how the present political opportunity structure directs engagement into 'animal charity' rather than transgressive protest. It contributes to the literature on the professionalization and non-governmental organization (NGO) of civil society in post-communist societies. The chapter engages in the ongoing debate about how to conceptualize the impact of resource mobilization on civil society's forms of engagement. It shown that, in the area of animal protection, the political system is more open to third-sector participation in the policy implementation phase, considering especially the legal opening that has made it possible for animal-oriented organizations to engage in animal rescue.
