Pizzorno

In this article we analyze Pizzorno’s attempt to develop a theory of identity capable of explaining individuals’ participation in collective action, and his belief that this theory can, at the same time, be presented as an alternative to rational choice theory. In our opinion he has failed in this attempt. We have tried to show that his theory has only the flimsiest of foundations (the notion that individuals are ‘strings of selves’ constitutes little more than a happy turn of phrase) and raises more questions than it resolves.