Definition of Social Movement and Neil Smelser's Predictive Theory
It is not simple to present the satisfying definition of social movements. To clarify any confusion about this matter, I am going to give definitions of collective behavior and social movement; collective behavior is defined as activity involving a relatively large number of people that is often spontaneous and very typically in violation of established social norms. Social movements, by contrast, are organized and relatively sustained activities that have a clear goal in terms of achieving or preventing some social change. To search broader knowledge of social movements, sociologist Neil Smelser argued that there are two kinds of social movement. One is norm-oriented movement and the other is value-oriented movement. In this paper, I am going to focus on norm-oriented movement.
Reform movements (norm-oriented movements) for the most part support existing social values, but they want to make macro-level changes in social norms. The civil rights movement is a good example. There was no attempt to change the set of dominant cultural values, which already included equality. Rather, the movement sought to change official norms that maintained segregation and institutionalized racism and then to change informal norms that supported the habitual racist behaviors of individuals. The movement made its demands for normative and behavioral changes on the basis of facts, supported by scientific and social sciences research results that demonstrated the falseness of certain long-standing beliefs held by many members of the society. Members of certain subcultures had more attachment to racist beliefs than members of others; thus, the pace of social change was faster wher...
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...st be present for any kind of collective episode to occur or not. Even though if we can see all these determinants for outbursts when we study an event or history, it does not necessarily “predict” the actual possibilities of actual occurrence. In other words, even if we are able to name all the determinants in the context, we cannot predict actual collective behavior will occur; it just enhances the possibilities of occurrence. Let us assume that we are studying some event or situation, which is a kind of social movement. It is generally believed and referred as social movement. However, this event does not fit in all six categories of Smelser. Forms of collective behavior within different social context vary. To define and study collective behavior and social movement, therefore, we should consider every possible theory and explanation for more adequate answers.
The United States was in a period of social and political adjustment in the early 1800s. Reform movements during this time period aimed to increase public awareness about their issues and to create social and political change. Groups such as blacks and women continued to be oppressed, so they created The Abolitionist Movement and The Women’s Rights Movement respectively, which aimed to fight for the rights that political leaders in the 19th century neglected. In the 1800s, the democratic values that most reform movements planned to obtain were free voting and public education. Most reform movements in the United States sought to achieve core democratic values such as liberty in different ways. The Abolitionist Movement aimed to emancipate all
After 42 long days the Tucson bus strike ended with a new contract to the union member. During this time period members of the Tuscon community conducted their own fair strike. People walked on the bus and refused to pay for their ride. On a normal scale this would be considered a “misbehavior” or a “deviant” act. However, the book links conduct misbehavior as an analytic category and not an empirical one. Therefore, it is the context of the misbehavior will influence whether it will be determined as a deviant act or develop into a social moment. When comparing an individual’s misconduct to a collective group, you can look at the collective group doing the same act and it can be considered a social movement. The same can be said about the Tuscon fair strike. I’ve been in a situation where someone
Collective behavior is less organized but effective forms of behavior that happens spontaneously. Le Bron's contagion theory crowds have trance over the members by emerging group mind. Collective behavior reaction to event that takes place. Such as example when radio announced invasion aliens the crowd took over chaos become motivation in group. Collective behavior is push everyone towards common purpose. With hypnotic state of th...
Over the past couple of years, I have become increasingly aware of a fast growing social movement that greatly impacts my life on a personal level. Reading further into the text, we learn about social integrati...
The book is divided into four parts. Part one pertains to The Appeal of Mass Movements. Part two covers the Potential Converts. Part three involves United Action and Self-Sacrifice. And Part four is titled Beginning and End. Throughout these four sections the author covers many sub-categories.
...of such activism is reflected in the massiveness of movements such as Occupy Wall Street, the Indignados, etc. By maintaining their distance from the bureaucratic underpinnings of politics and living their day-to-day in forms which they consider to be the right alternative to the current neoliberal social, ecological, economical, and political structures, and by broadcasting them and creating networks of like-minded people, young activists are increasing their political power by affecting the public opinion and challenging neoliberal practices. Though these movements still have to face the fact that even if a truly functional alternative to neoliberalism is presented, there´s no assurance that it will be adopted and that things will truly change. But the path is still being constructed, and these movements have continued to achieve a lot in terms of social justice.
...s by linking this sense of a moral code to the economy by boycotting the companies who benefitted from racial discrimination. The International Relations Theory coupled with a social movement leads to global transformations resulting from mobilization. Mobilization Klotz argues is a necessary tool for the transformation of normative foundations globally. These movements in particular challenged present social systems and found its success in identifying with a moral discrimination issue. It here that when a social movement creates alliances with various discriminated and non-discriminated but financially supportive actors that the movement is more likely in challenging and overthrowing the elites of society as well as changing socioeconomic and political foundations. Social movements indeed have the ability to span globally and alter economic and political policies.
Polletta, F., & Jasper, J. M. (2001). Collective identity and social movements. Annual review of Sociology, 283-305.
The socials groups can be formal or informal. This is very advantageous as they also lead to the unification of the established group. In this case, the Social movement is very important. The Social movement is either by individuals, a group of people or even organizations. They fight against a common goal in the short run (Sombart, 1896). The Social movements are made better by the improvement of education center. This has given more literature to the people hence they are able to facilitate their activities to the best.
Paul Hawken, in the chapter “Blessed Unrest,” records the people of a new social movement, as well as their ideals, goals, and principles. He writes how they are connected, along with the diversity and differences they bring to make the social movement unique. Hawken communicates to the readers the various social, environmental, and political problems they will encounter in today’s world as well as similar problems of the past. Problems that these groups of organizations are planning to undertake with the perseverance of humanity.
Polletta, Francesca and James Jasper. “Collective Identity and Social Movements.” Annual Review of Sociology 27.1 (2001): 283–305. Print.
(Turner and Killian 1987) cited in (Diani 1992, p. 4) define social movements as a “collectivity acting with some continuity to promote or resist a change in the society or organisation of which it is part. As a collectivity a movement is a group with indefinite and shifting membership and with leadership whose position is determined more by informal response of adherents than by formal procedures for legitimizing authority”. Turner and Killian regard a social movement as a peculiar kind of collective behavior that is contrasted to regularity and institutional behavior. Additionally, Turner believes that social movements do not necessarily coincide with movement organisations, although these organisations can carry out a large part of the movement tasks and it is often help to control and speak for movements (Diani 1992).
Researchers classify social movements according to the type of change they seek (Aberle, 1966, Cameron, 1966, Blumer, 1969, as cited in Macionis, 2007). According to John Macionis, a social movement is when people commonly band together to create an organized activity that encourages or discourages social change (Macionis, 2008). In the case of this radical society, Hippies were typically ...
This summer if you were on social media you heard about the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge. The concept was simple, just film yourself dumping a bucket of ice water over your head, challenge your friends to do the same, and donate ten dollars to the ALS Association. Opt out and donate one hundred dollars (Madison). Many Americans did not know what ALS was and by putting this challenge on social media has brought tons awareness to this devastating disease. Activism used to be taking action to bring social change, people in the 1960s used to gather in front of community centers and protest and or speak about their issue or cause. Now even though people still gather together it is much easier to use the internet. Hundreds of social media applications
Two of the four coordinates that are completely opposite from each other on this theoretical framework include “Individual” and “Collective.” According to classical theory, “Individual are the patterns of social life which are seen as emerging from ongoing interaction, and Collective are the patterns of social life which are seen as the product of existing structural arrangements” (Appelrouth...