Social movement

A social movement is a loosely organized effort by a large number of people. These groups work toward a specific social or political goal. Some movements seek to create social change. Others attempt to resist or undo changes that have already happened. They can consist of individuals, organizations, or both. Social movements act as a method of change from the bottom up within a nation. They can empower oppressed populations to challenge powerful elites. However, some movements do not aim for equality. Instead, they may try to maintain or increase existing power relationships, such as fascism.

Sociologists and political scientists study how these movements function. They look at how movements influence political agendas or lead to new political parties. To understand them, scholars examine several specific factors. These include the scope of the movement and the type of change intended. They also look at the methods used and the time frame of the activity. Some scholars define a movement as a network of informal interactions. These interactions happen between individuals and groups engaged in a political or cultural conflict. This conflict is based on a shared collective identity.

Sociologist Charles Tilly identified three major elements that make up a social movement. The first is campaigns, which are sustained, organized public efforts to make claims on authorities. The second is the repertoire of contention. This is the specific set of actions people use, such as public meetings, rallies, demonstrations, or petition drives. They might also use pamphlets or public media statements. The third element involves WUNC displays. This stands for worthiness, unity, numbers, and commitment. Participants use these displays to show their strength and purpose to the public.

The history of mass social movements is tied to economic and political shifts. In mid-18th century England, movements grew alongside market capitalization and urbanization. One of the first sustained mass movements centered on John Wilkes. Wilkes was an editor of a paper called The North Briton. He attacked the government and the 1763 Treaty of Paris. When he was arrested, he became a figurehead for the middle class. People chanted "Wilkes and Liberty" in the streets. This movement used public meetings and mass petition marches. It eventually forced authorities to grant press freedom and declare general warrants unconstitutional.

Other significant movements emerged in the late 18th and 19th centuries. In 1779, Lord George Gordon led the Protestant Association. This group protested the Papists Act of 1778. Their protests turned into large riots across London in 1780. Later, the British abolitionist movement fought against slavery between 1791 and 1806. In the 1830s, Chartism became the first mass working-class movement. Between 1838 and 1848, Chartists campaigned for the People's Charter. They demanded universal suffrage and the use of a secret ballot. The term "social movement" was officially introduced to scholarly study in 1848 by Lorenz von Stein.

The 20th century saw a massive expansion of different movement types. After the Second World War, many "new social movements" appeared. These included feminism, gay rights, the peace movement, and environmentalism. The civil rights movement, led by figures like Martin Luther King Jr., is one of the most famous examples. In other parts of the world, movements fought against colonialism, such as the Mau Mau in Kenya. In Russia, movements contributed to the collapse of the Czarist regime in 1905 and 1917. More recently, the anti-globalization movement emerged in the late 1990s.

Several key processes allow these movements to function and grow. Urbanization brings large numbers of people together in cities. This makes it easier for people with similar goals to organize. Industrialization also gathered workers in specific regions, focusing movements on economic issues. Education and the spread of literature help people share ideas. Communication technology is also vital. In the past, people used printed pamphlets in coffeehouses. Today, movements use the internet and social media to mobilize people globally. This allows for rapid civic engagement and collective action across borders.