SOC150: Social Change and Mobilization

social change

variations over time in every aspect of the social world, ranging from changes affecting individuals to transformations having an impact on the entire globe

social movement

a type of collective action that allows for social change

defining characteristics of social movements

organization, temporal continuity, change-oriented goals, and the use of extra-institutional forms of action

organization

social movements are brought into existence intentionally and are a collective effort involving a significant number of people

temporal continuity

social movements are sustained for a long period of time

change-oriented goals

social movements attempt to bring about substantial change

use of extra-institutional forms of action

social movements operate outside official institutional channels

emergence of social movements

requires a structural trigger, organizational capital, and biographical availability

structural trigger

a shift at the macro level (regional, national, international) signaling an opportunity or threat that motivates mobilization

organizational capital

material and social resources (money, networks, experience) that facilitate the planning, coordination, and implementation of short- and long-term movement goals

biographical availability

demographic characteristics of movement participants that allow them to afford the costs and risks of social mobilization