Social Movement- Meaning, Definition, Characteristics, Types and Factors

# Social Movement

In a society a large number of changes have been brought about by efforts exerted by people individually and collectively. Such efforts have been called social movements.

A social movement is a sustained collective effort to shape or transform society, either by driving change or resisting it. It's a collaborative endeavor that seeks to address specific issues or overhaul the existing social structure. 

Social movements can take various forms, from advocating for incremental reforms to pushing for radical, revolutionary change. While some movements focus on tweaking specific aspects of the status quo, others aim to upend it entirely, seeking fundamental transformation. The former are known as reform movements, working within the system to effect gradual change, while the latter are revolutionary movements, seeking to dismantle and rebuild the social order from the ground up.

# Definition of Social Movements

1. According to Lundberg:- “Social movement as a voluntary association of people engaged in concerted efforts to change attitudes, behavior and social relationship in a larger society.”

2. According to Anderson & Parker:- “Social movement is a form of dynamic pluralistic behavior which progressively develops structure throughout time and aims at partial or complete modification of the social order.”

# Characteristics of Social Movement

1. Social movement is an effort by a group.

2. Its aim is to bring or resist a change in society.

3. It may be organized or unorganized.

4. It may be peaceful or violent.

5. Its life is not certain. Continue for a long period may die out soon.

6. Social movements involve collective action.

7.  It generally creates a social change.

8. It is based on a specific ideology and is oriented towards a change.

# Types of Social Movements

(1) Migratory movements:- Migratory movement Migratory movements occur when a significant number of individuals leave their home country and settle elsewhere, driven by a shared sense of discontent, purpose, or hope for a better future. It's not just about people moving; it's a collective action with a common goal. To qualify as a migratory social movement, there must be widespread discontent, a shared purpose or hope for the future and a collective decision. For example, the Zionist movement, the movement of Jews to Israel, movement of people from East Germany to West Germany.

(2) Expressive movements:- Expressive movements emerge when individuals feel trapped and powerless to change an oppressive social system. In response, they channel their frustrations into a collective expression of discontent, seeking to cope with their circumstances through a shared sense of hope and vision for a better future. Through expressive movements, people find ways to endure and resist oppressive conditions, fostering a sense of community and resilience that can eventually drive transformative change. For example, Hippie movement.

(3) Utopian movements:- A Utopian movement is one which seeks to create an ideal social system or a perfect society which can be found only in man’s imagination and not in reality. Search movements are based on a conception of man as basically good cooperative and altruistic. For example, Sarvodaya movement.

(4) Reform movements:- Reform movements aim to improve and refine existing social, political, or economic systems, rather than overthrowing them entirely. These movements seek to address specific issues or injustices within a society, working to modify or reform particular aspects of the system. It focus on gradual, step-by-step changes, rather than radical transformations. Reform movements thrive in democratic societies, where citizens have the freedom to criticize and advocate for change. For example, movements to abolish untouchability, dowry system, preserve wild life, control population growth.

(5) Revolutionary movements:- The revolutionary movement seeks to overthrow the existing social system and replace it with a greatly different one. The reform movement wants to correct some imperfections in the existing social system but a revolutionary movement wants to root out the system itself. Revolutionary movements flourish where reform is blocked so that revolutionary remains the people’s one only alternative to their present misery. For example, Communist movements in Soviet Russia and China.

(6) Resistance movements:- Resistance movements emerge as a response to perceived threats to traditional values, beliefs, or power structures, aiming to prevent new changes from occurring and try to reverse or undo changes already implemented. Resistance movements often aim to maintain the existing social, political, or economic order. In contrast to revolutionary movements, which seek rapid transformation, resistance movements seek to slow down or halt change. These movements can take various forms, from peaceful protests to violent opposition, and may be led by individuals, groups, or even governments. For example, D.M.K. movement against Hindi.

# Factors of Social Movements

1. Cultural drifts:- Cultural drift refers to the gradual and continuous changes that occur in a society's values, beliefs, and behaviors over time. As society evolves, new ideas and perspectives emerge, and people organize movements to promote and implement these changes. Cultural drift can lead to significant transformations, such as democratic values, women's rights and gender equality, expansion of education, social equality and secularism.

2. Social injustice:- Social injustice refers to the perceived unfairness or unequal distribution of resources, opportunities, or rights within a society. When a group of people feels that they have been treated unfairly or denied their rightful privileges, they may experience feelings of frustration, alienation, and resentment. This sense of injustice can be a powerful catalyst for social movements, as people seek to address the perceived wrongs and promote change. A wealthy class may feel a sense of injustice when faced with Urban Property Ceiling Act or high taxes intended to benefit the poor. Social injustice is a subjective value judgment. A social system is unjust when it is so perceived by its members.

3. Social disorganization:- Social disorganization refers to a state of society where changes occur at an uneven pace, leading to a mismatch between different social institutions, values, and behaviors. This mismatch creates "lags" or gaps between various aspects of society, causing social problems and tensions. Social disorganization leads to a state of confusion, uncertainty, and frustration among individuals. The individuals feel insecured, confused and frustrated. Confusion and frustrations produce social movements.

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