CH18 - Social Movements and Change

Social Change

refers to small-group changes to global-level and national-level transformation

ex: technological advancements, economic changes, environmental change

sociological social change

changes throughout an entire society

societies

ppl who share a common culture and institutions

functionalist perspective on societies

societies become more complex and interdependent

differentiation

complexity through creating specialized social roles and institutions

early functional theories were ___________

evolutionary

describe how early functional theories were evolutionary

all societies begin as simples or primitive and eventually develop into more complicated and civilized forms along a single, unidirectional evolutionary path

multilinear

multiple change paths to social change exist, depending on the particular circumstances of the society

• technology, environment, population size, and social organization are among the factors that play roles in determining the path a society takes

what was Durkheim’s view of societies? (functionalist)

believed that population growth resulted in such a differentiation of social relationships that organic solidarity replaced mechanical solidarity for primitive or less developed societies

what was Talcott Parsons view of societies? (functionalist)

viewed societies as equilibrium systems that constantly seek to maintain balance unless something external disrupts their equilibrium

what does the conflict perspective say about social movements?

change created by social inequality and the resulting competition for resources

what does Marx say about social movements?

contradictions and conflicts builts into capitalist societies

• revolutionary transformation of society into new type

• all societies would advance to classless, stateless society

what did Antonio Gramsci say about social movements (conflict perspective)

the importance of ideas in maintaining order and oppression

the ruling class is often able to create __________. according to conflict perspective

ideological hegemony

ideological hegemony

a generally accepted view of what is of value and how ppl should relate to their economic and social status in society

organic intellectuals

those who emerge from oppressed groups to create counter hegemonies that challenge dominant (and dominating) ideas

Ralf Dahrendorf (conflict)

the distribution of authority in society is a means of determining that probability of conflict

collective bx

voluntary, goal-oriented action that occurs in relatively disorganized situations where society’s predominant social normals and values cease to govern individual behavior

crowds

temporarily interacting with ppl with a common focus

• crowds are traditionally seen with group emotions

• crowds are critical to social movements

• collective action today is often linked to social media

contagion theories

assume that humans can revert to herdlike behavior when they come together in large crowds

Herbert Blumer emphasized the role of imitation

an explanation limited to copycat behavior is unlikely to account fully for collective bx

emergent norms

norms that are situationally created to support a collective action

turner and killian: even when crowd behavior is chaotic and disorganized, normals emerge thta explain crowd actions

all crowds do not develop norms

spontaneous emotional outbursts may occur

• when norms governing crowd behavior do emerge, that are unlikely, by themselves, to account fully for collective behavior

collective behavior: value-added theory

Neil Smelser’s approach to understanding collective behavior

combines societal, organizational, and individual-level factors

structural conduciveness

a condition where the existing social structure favors the emergence of collective behavior

when does structural strain occur?

when the social system breaks down

rumors

unverified forms of information that are transmitted informally, usually originating in unknown sources

the degree of alteration varies according to the nature of the rumor; it is greatest for rumors that trigger strong emotions or that pass through large number of people

rumors accelerate through social media

fad

temporary, highly imitated unconventional behavior

fads are particularly common responses to popular entertainemnt and require social networks to spread

fashions

long-lasting styles of imitative behavior and appearance

George Simmel: the tension between the desire to be different and conform

panic

massive flight from something feared

• often kindled by the belief that something is awry in the corporate world or in consumer technology

craze

an intense attraction to an object, a person, or an activity

• crazes are more intense versions of fads

riot

an illegal, prolonged outbreak of violent behavior by a sizable group of people directed against individual or property

• riots represent a form of crowd behavior; often, they are spontaneous, altho sometimes they are motivated by a conscious set of concerns

use of the term is often highly political

what do Arab Spring, BLM, PETA, and the anit-globalization movement, and the Tea Party all have in common?

they are all examples of social movements

social movement

a large number of ppl who come together in a cont. and organized effort to bring about (or resist) social change and who rely at least partially on non institutionalized forms of political action

what is a social movement?

partially outside the political establishment

some formal organizations support goals and beliefs

strength derived from the ability to disrupt the status quo

what is the reformist movement?

seek to bring about social change within the existing economic and political system

American Woman Suffrage Association formed 1869 by Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton

• liberate women from oppression and ensure them the right to vote

civil rights movement of late 1950s/1960s

• called for social changes that would enforce the constitutionally mandated rights of African Americans

what are Revolutionary Movements?

seek to fundamentally alter the existing social, political, and economic system in keeping with a vision of a new social order

reformist approaches may fail

offer a plan for a new social order

directed at clearly identifiable targets

may have reformist elements or include violence

what are rebellions

seek to overthrow the existing social, political, and economic systems but lack detailed plans for a new social order

common where mobilization is difficult/impossible

what are reactionary movements?

seek to restore an earlier social system, often based on a mythical past, along with the traditional norms and values that once presumably accompanied it

• ex: anti abortion movement

possible increase in reactionary movement with globalization

what is the utopian movement?

utopian social movements: seek to withdraw from the dominant society by creating their own ideal community

youth movements of the 1960s

few utopian communities lasted long

why do social movements arise? according to the microlevel approach

neither personality nor personal alienation account for activist leaning

participation motivated psychological identification with others

activism explanations include having had prior contact, social networks, or history

free-rider problem

many avoid the costs of social movements or activism and still benefit from its success

why does social movements arise from an organizational-level approaches?

social-movement organization (SMOs): formal organizations that seek to achieve social change through non institutionalized forms of political action

SMOs range from informal volunteer groups to professional organizations with full-time leadership and staff

government policies are important determinants of the success or failure of SMOs

why does social movements arise from a macrolevel approach?

large-scale economic, political, and cultural conditions ultimately determine movement’s success or failure

political systems encourage or repress social movements

prosperity in the form of resources such as mass media may facilitate social movements