Introduction to Social Movements

Flashcards covering the introduction, conceptual components, examples, definitions, stages, and characteristics of social movements.

What are key questions analyzed in the study of social movements?

When and where do movements occur, what sparks a movement, who participates and why, and how do protest strategies and tactics develop.

What is one important factor, besides grievances, that explains why social movements form at certain times?

Resource mobilization.

According to Suzane Staggenborg, what helps us understand how movements achieve or are limited in achieving change?

Examining political opportunities and obstacles.

What are some common strategies and tactics used by social movements?

Protests, rallies, lobbying, strikes, demonstrations, social media, and civil disobedience.

What are potential outcomes of social movements?

Policy change, government change, shifts in culture or law reforms.

What was the main issue raised by the Occupy Wall Street movement?

Social and economic inequality, greed, corruption, and the undue influence of corporations on government.

How did the labor movements in Europe and North America achieve collective bargaining rights and concessions?

They used strikes and other tactics to win rights such as the eight-hour workday.

What is a common definition of social movements?

A sustained, organized collective effort by people to bring about or resist change.

Who introduced the term 'social movement' in 1850?

The German sociologist Lorenz Von Steirn.

According to Staggenborg (2021), what is an important means of bringing about political and cultural change?

Social movements through collective action.

What are the three characteristics of a social movement according to Turner and Killian (1972)?

Collective action which is initiated, organized and sustained; ideology; and oriented towards social change.

What was one of the most important movements of the 1960s that fought for equal treatment of Black Americans?

The American Civil Rights Movement.

What major action took place in Montgomery, Alabama, during the Civil Rights Movement that led to the desegregation of buses?

A year-long boycott of public buses led by Martin Luther King.

In what year was the Civil Rights Act passed?

1964.

What are the four stages of social movements?

Emergence, Coalescence, Bureaucratization, and Decline.

What happens during the 'emergence' stage of a social movement?

People become aware of an issue, believe change is necessary, and experience frustration or dissatisfaction.

What characterizes the 'bureaucratization' stage of a social movement?

The movement becomes more formal and structured, developing organization, strategy, leadership, and organizations to achieve its goal.

What are the key outcomes that can lead to a movement's decline?

Success, repression, or failure.

What is one key characteristic of social movements regarding their action?

They involve collective and collaborative action by large groups of people.

What unites members of a social movement?

A common and shared concern or shared objectives/ideologies.

How long do social movements typically last?

They are sustained over time, lasting months, years, or even decades.

Where do movements often operate in relation to political or legal institutions?

Often outside of formal established institutions, challenging laws and policies that are seen as unjust.

What types of approaches can social movements use?

They can be peaceful or confrontational.