Social movements are a type of group action.

They are large informal groupings of individuals

and/or organizations focused on specific political or social issues, in other words, on carrying out,
resisting or undoing a social change.

Three major elements to a social movement:

1. Campaigns: a sustained, organized public effort making collective claims on target

authorities;
2. Repertoire: employment of combinations from among the following forms of political
action: creation of special-purpose associations and coalitions, public meetings, solemn
processions, vigils, rallies, demonstrations, petition drives, statements to and in public
media, and pamphleteering; and
3. WUNC displays: participants' concerted public representation of worthiness, unity,
numbers, and commitments on the part of themselves and/or their constituencies.

Types of social movements.

Sociologists distinguish between several types of social movement:

• scope
o reform movements - movements dedicated to changing some norms, usually legal
ones. Examples of such a movement would include a trade union with a goal of
increasing workers rights, a green movement advocating a set of ecological laws, or
a movement supporting introduction of a capital punishment or right to abortion.
Some reform movements may advocate a change in custom and moral norms, for
example, condemnation of pornography or proliferation of some religion. The
nature of such movements is not just related to the issue but also to the methods
used. There could be reformist or radical methods used to achieve the same end,
such as in the case of making abortion legal and readily available.

o radical movement - movements dedicated to changing value systems. Those involve

fundamental changes, unlike the reform movements, Examples would include the
American Civil Rights Movement which demanded full civil rights and equality
under the law to all Americans (this movement was broad and included both radical
and reformist elements), regardless of race, the Polish Solidarity (Solidarność)
movement which demanded the transformation of a Stalinist political and
economic system into a democracy or the South African shack dwellers' movement
Abahlali baseMjondolo which demands the full inclusion of shack dwellers into the
life of cities.
• type of change
o innovation movement - movements which want to enable particular norms, values,
etc. The singularitarianism movement advocating deliberate action to effect and
ensure the safety of the technological singularity is an example of an innovation
movement.
o conservative movement - movements which want to preserve existing norms,
values, etc. For example, the anti-automation 19th century Luddites movement or
the modern movement opposing the spread of the genetically modified food could
be seen as conservative movements in that they aimed to fight specific
technological changes, however they are progressive in ways that movements that
are simply being anti-change (e.g. being anti-immigration) for the sake of it can
never be.
• targets
o group-focus movements - focused on affecting groups or society in general, for
example, advocating the change of the political system. Some of these groups
transform into or join a political party, but many remain outside the reformist
party political system.
o individual-focused movements - focused on affecting individuals. Most religious
movements would fall under this category.
• methods of work
o peaceful movements, which are seen to stand in contrast to 'violent' movements.
The American Civil Rights movement, Polish Solidarity movement or the nonviolent,
civil disobedience-orientated wing of the Indian independence movement would
fall into this category.
o violent movements - various armed movements e.g. the Zapatista Army of National
Liberation, Rote Armee Fraktion.
• old and new
o old movements - movements for change have existed since the beginning of
society, most of the 19th century movements fought for specific social groups, such
as the working class, peasants, whites, aristocrats, Protestants, men. They were
usually centered around some materialistic goals like improving the standard of
living or, for example, the political autonomy of the working class.
o new movements - movements which became dominant from the second half of the
20th century - like the feminist movement, pro-choice movement, civil rights
movement, environmental movement, free software movement, gay rights
movement, peace movement, anti-nuclear movement, alter-globalization
movement, etc. Sometimes they are known as new social movements. They are
usually centered around issues that go beyond but are not separate from class.
 • range
o global movements - social movements with global objectives and goals. Movements
such as the first (where Marx and Bakunin met), second, third and fourth
internationals, the World Social Forum, the PGA and the anarchist movement seek
to change society at a global level.
o local movements - most of the social movements have a local scope. They are
based on local or regional objectives, such as protecting a specific natural area,
lobbying for the lowering of tolls in a certain motorway, or squatting a building
about to be demolished for gentrification and turning it into a social center.
o multi-level movements - social movements which recognize the complexity of
governance in the 21st Century and aim to have an impact at the local, regional,
national and international levels.

Kinds of Social Movement

Animal rights movement: Animal rights, also known as animal liberation, is the idea that the
interests of animals, such as the interest in avoiding suffering, should be afforded the same
consideration as the interests of human beings.[1] Although animal rights advocates approach the
issue from different philosophical positions, they argue, broadly speaking, that animals should no
longer be regarded as property, or used as food, clothing, research subjects, or entertainment, but
should instead be regarded as legal persons and members of the moral community.

• Anti-consumerism movement: Anti-consumerism refers to the socio-political movement

against consumerism. Consumerism is a term used to describe the effects of the market
economy on the individual. Concern over the treatment of consumers has spawned substantial
activism, and the incorporation of consumer education into school curricula.

Anti-consumerist activism draws parallels with environmental activism, anti-globalization, and

animal-rights activism in its condemnation of modern corporations, or organizations that pursue an
economic interest.

Opposition to economic materialism comes primarily from two sources: religion and social activism.
Some religions assert materialism interferes with connection between the individual and the
divine, or that it is inherently an immoral lifestyle.

Some notable individuals, such as Francis of Assisi and Mohandas Gandhi claimed spiritual
inspiration led them to a simple lifestyle. Social activists believe materialism is connected to war,
crime, and general social malaise. Fundamentally, their concern is that materialism is unable to
offer a raison d'être for human existence.
"Keeping up with the Joneses" is a popular catchphrase in many parts of the English-speaking
world. It refers to the desire to be seen as being as good as one's neighbours or contemporaries
using the comparative benchmarks of social caste or the accumulation of material goods. To fail to
"keep up with the Joneses" is perceived as demonstrating socio-economic or cultural inferiority.

Social effects

The philosophy of "keeping up with the Joneses" has widespread effects on society. According to
this philosophy, conspicuous consumption occurs when "households care about their relative
standard of living" in relation to their societal peers.

According to Roger Mason, "the demand for status goods, fueled by conspicuous consumption, has
diverted many resources away from investment in the manufacture of more material goods and
services in order to satisfy consumer preoccupations with their relative social standing and
prestige.”

Anti-war movement: The term anti-war usually refers to the opposition to a particular nation's
decision to start or carry on an armed conflict. The term can also refers to pacifism, which is the
opposition to all use of military force during conflicts. Many activists distinguish between anti-war
movements and peace movements. Anti-war activists work through protest and other grassroots
means to attempt to pressure a government (or governments) to put and end to a particular war or
conflict.

Civil rights movement:

For example, the philosopher John Locke (1632–1704) argued that the natural rights of life, liberty
and property should be converted into civil rights and protected by the sovereign state as an aspect
of the social contract. Others have argued that people acquire rights as an inalienable gift from a
deity (such as God) or at a time of nature before governments were formed.

Known Civil Rights Activists:

1. Mahatma Gandhi

2. Martin Luther King

3. Rosa Parks

4. Nelson Mandela

5. Steve Biko

6. Desmund Tutu