The literature on social studies enjoys a wide range of social movement’s definitions (Christiansen 2009). This diversity of such a definition is due to the fact that theorists tend to define the term of a social movement depending on their particular theoretical formulation (Diani 1992). Therefore, this section will first consider definitions proposed by group of scholars that represent four major trends in social movements analysis. These trends are as follow, the ‘Collective Behavior Perspective’ (Turner and Killian), the ‘Resource Mobilization Theory’ (RMT) (ZaId and McCarthy); the ‘Political Process Perspective (Tilly); and the ‘New Social Movements Approach’ (NSMs) (Touraine, Melucci). Then, a definition by Della Porta and Diani is selected as this definition has been centered on the most important characteristics of the social movements and oft-cited by researchers.
(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).
(McCarthy and Zald 1977, p. 1217) def...
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...rrain: the need for self-realization in everyday life” (Melucci 1989, p. 23). What makes the contemporary movements distinctive from tradtional movements is that it is active on variuos levels within and outside of the political sephere. Moreover, (Melucci 1989, p. 75) argues that contomberary movements establish their collective idientity outside the political domain and “translate their action into symbolic challenges that overturn the dominant cultural codes”. The differences that characterized the contemporary social movements - the building of unity in the face of heterogeneity and differentiation, the creation of the symbolic challenges, and their political characters – make it difficult to be approached by the aforementioned theories which are politically reductionist and only analyse the outcomes of the actions ore movements (Barholomew & Mayer 1992).
Existing within the movement must be a leader or leaders, as well as a large number of committed followers or members. Additionally, social movements have “organizations or coalitions” working as a guiding backbone for collectivity and regulation (Stewart,
The activist youth represented were not only concerned about themselves but also about their communities. An important aspect of activism defined by the girls in the book is ‘collectiveness,’ instead of the ‘individualism.’ Emphasizing activism as collective, rather than individual action and highlighting their organizational affiliations, rejects the conception of activism as an act of heroic individuals (Taft, p.44). For example in Mexico City, girl activists engage in a street performance at the Zócalo on Día de los Muertos to raise social and political awareness. In Buenos Aires, students take over school offices to have their demands fulfilled. Activism, according to the girls, is beyond protests.
Polletta, Francesca and James Jasper. “Collective Identity and Social Movements.” Annual Review of Sociology 27.1 (2001): 283–305. Print.
Filene wrote “An Obituary for “The Progressive Movement”” in direct response to Hofstadter and other historians that there was never a Progressive ‘Movement.’ He argues that most historian are too caught up in defining Progressivism that they do not consider what it means for something to be a movement. He states that a social movement is a group acting to cause change or to stop change. Filene argues that there was never a movement, that society and progressives were too fractured to act as one group.
movement routes. Most social movements emerge from within established institutions. with support from elites, or with origins that involved professional movement organizers. The early Pro-Choice movement, however, emerged as a collection of concerns. physicians and professionals who want to help legalize abortion and keep it safe.
Protests have long been a way for people to display their difference in opinion and gain support. One of the many protests against the war that had a powerful effect on public opini...
... Barreto, M. (2009). Collective Action in Modern Times: How Modern Expressions of Prejudice Prevent Collective Action. Journal of Social Issues, 749-768.
Globalization, the term used to describe the dominant framework of international relations following the cold war, is affecting many aspects of politics and social experience. This is seen in the Zapatista rebellion and movement in Chiapas, Mexico that has benefited from globalization and transnational support. This paper examines the relationship of transnationalism and social movements with the Zapatistas as a case study. In particular, this paper argues that the Zapatistas are part of the anti-globalization cycle of protest. As a result, they have used the master frame of this cycle of protest and aligned that frame in light of their particular situation. Because this frame was resonant with transnational activists a network of support was formed, which pressures the government from above, increasing the chances of success of a movement. The paper concludes by examining the implications of the Zapatistas for social movement research, with particular regard for Tarrow’s “strong thesis” about movements in a transnational era
...ist activism in Latin America. Blackwell encyclopedia of sociology. Retrieved May 20, 2011, from http://www.blackwellreference.com/public/tocnode?id=g9781405124331_yr2011_chunk_g978140512433112_ss1-38#citation
Part one, The Appeal of Mass Movements, describes why people would be drawn towards a mass movement. "For men to plunge headlong into an undertaking of vast change, they must be intensely discontented yet not destitute, and they must have the feeling that by the possession of some potent doctrine." (Page 11) During this chapter the author uses a wealth of historical information including the French Revolution and the English Industrial Revolution. The author also details what conditions are most suited for a mass movement to take place. He tells that when people are ready for mass movement, they will usually go for any type.
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.
In movements today and in circles and discussions around social justice today we like to entertain the idea of liberation; whether collective or individual, the endgame is liberation for all. Although the goal has seemingly changed in today’s movements – from achieving equality and reform to all-out liberation – the methods to achieving this new goal have not necessarily changed. They have not changed because the idea remains that it may be possibly to gain liberation through equality. Equality is a more tangible goal for most movements; it’s easier to demand, it’s easier to imagine and describe. Liberation, not so much. Most might consider that equality has a reasonable timeline where liberation will be a very long process that involves the deconstruction and the decolonization of centuries of oppression. So, in the meantime while waiting for liberation, maybe we should fight for equality as it will put us that much closer to liberation.
Social Revolutions in the Modern World is a compilation of essays, which updates and expands arguments Skocpol posed years earlier regarding social revolutions in her previous book, States and Social Revolutions. The updated arguments seek to explain how we can better understand recent revolutionary upheavals in countries across the globe and why social revolutions have happened in some countries, but not in others. Throughout the book, Skocpol illustrates how ideas about states and societies can aid in identifying the particular types of regimes that are susceptible to the growth of revolutionary movements as well as those that are vulnerable to seizure of state power by revolutionary aggressors. Skocpol argu...
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 ...
we ever studied was the Civil War, World War I, and World War II and