Social Movements Sac 4

Social Movement

Refers to a group engaged in an organised effort to achieve social change

Social Change

Refers to adjustments and fluctuation in views, values, norms and structures in society in response to various factors such as laws, the actions and interests of specific groups of people, government policies, available resources and the way society is organised

Nature of a social movement

is the context of the social movement and includes the type and stage of the movement as well as why it has come into being

Purpose of a social movement

is its aims of the goals it wants to achieve

Alternative movements

seek to achieve limited change within the individual

Redemptive movements

Advocate for major or radical change within an individual

Reformative movements

seek to change a specific group or society in a limited way, focusing on a particular facet of the social structure to reform society as a whole

Revolutionary Movements

advocate for a reorganisation of society as a whole, through seeking radical change to society

Emergence

Is the first stage of a social movement. In this stage there is widespread discontent but little to no organisation

Coalescence

Is the second stage of a social movement. During this stage membership grows and strategies are formulated

Bureaucratisation

Is the third stage of a social movement. This stage is characterised by high levels of organisation, with strategy carried out within formal structures.

Decline

Is the final stage of a social movement, where the movement ends, either having achieved or failed to achieve its goals

Success

A movement can decline due to achieving its own goals

Failure

Movements that decline through failure are said to end due to failures within the organisation of the movement.

Repression

Occurs when authorities set out to control or destroy a social movement through either violent or legal measures, such as passing laws to intimidate members of a movement

Co-optation

Movements that are dependent on centralised authority or on charismatic leadership can see the movement decline through co-optation when the leader is recruited by the opposition with promises that they will be able to make changes from the outside. Co-optation can also occur if promises of money or prestige are accepted at the expense of the goals of the movement.

Mainstream

If a movement’s goals or ideologies are adopted by the mainstream, there is no longer a need for the movement.

Power

Is the ability to impose one’s will on others, even if they resist in some way.

Reward Power (Formal)

Is based on the ability to provide a positive incentive

Coercive Power (Formal)

Is based on the ability to provide a consequence for non-compliance

Legitimate Power (Formal)

Is based on the belief that a person has the formal right to make demands

Referent Power (Informal)

Is based on identification with, attraction to or respect for the leader. This can include people with large followings or strong reputations

Expert Power (Informal)

Is power based on having superior insight, knowledge or abilities

Informational Power (Informal Power)

Is based on the ability to control the information others need to accomplish their goals.

Violence

Refers to the use or involvement of physical force intended to hurt, damage or kill someone

Non-Violent Resistance

Is a method of struggle in which unarmed people confront adversaries by using collective action-including protests, demonstrations, strikes and non-cooperation.

Mass Mobilisation

Refers to the organised efforts of bringing together a large number of people to actively participate in a movement.