social movement organizations

Examples of social movement organizations in the following topics:

• Social Movements

  • These movements do not have to be formally organized to be considered social movements.
  • Sociologists draw distinctions between social movements and social movement organizations (SMOs).
  • A social movement organization is a formally organized component of a social movement.
  • Thus, promoting veganism would be considered the social movement, while PETA would be considered a particular SMO (social movement organization) working within the broader social movement.
  • Discover the difference between social movements and social movement organizations, as well as the four areas social movements operate within

• Introduction

  • Social movements are any broad social alliances of people who are connected through their shared interest in blocking or affecting social change.
  • Social movements do not have to be formally organized.
  • A distinction is drawn between social movements and social movement organizations (SMOs).
  • A social movement organization is a formally organized component of a social movement.
  • It is also interesting to note that social movements can spawn counter movements.

• Resource Mobilization Approach

  • The resource-mobilization approach is a theory that seeks to explain the emergence of social movements.
  • Resource mobilization theory also divides social movements according to their position among other social movements.
  • social movement entrepreneurs and protest organizations are the catalysts which transform collective discontent into social movements; social movement organizations form the backbone of social movements
  • As each movement's response to the opportunity structures depends on the movement's organization and resources, there is no clear pattern of movement development nor are specific movement techniques or methods universal.
  • Use the resource-mobilization theory to explain some of the successful social movements in history, such as the Civil Rights Movement

• Social Movement Theories

  • According to this approach, individuals who are lacking some good, service, or comfort are more likely to organize a social movement to improve (or defend) their conditions.
  • social movement entrepreneurs and protest organizations are the catalysts which transform collective discontent into social movements; social movement organizations form the backbone of social movements
  • Organizational strength falls inline with resource-mobilization theory, arguing that in order for a social movement to organize it must have strong leadership and sufficient resources.
  • Diagnostic frame: the movement organization frames what is the problem or what they are critiquing
  • Prognostic frame: the movement organization frames what is the desirable solution to the problem

• Types of Social Movements

  • Social movements occur when large groups of individuals or organizations work for or against change in social and/or political matters.
  • Social movements are a specific type of group action in which large informal groups of individuals or organizations work for or against change in specific political or social issues.
  • Social movements can be aimed at change on an individual level, e.g.
  • Violent movements resort to violence when seeking social change.
  • Discuss the criteria that form the basis of classification of social movements

• External Sources of Social Change

  • Another source is systematic factors, such as government, available resources, and the social organization of society.
  • It argues that the success or failure of social movements is primarily affected by political opportunities.
  • The insurgent consciousness is the collective sense of injustice that movement members (or potential movement members) feel and serves as the motivation for movement organization.
  • "Organizational strength" falls in line with resource-mobilization theory, arguing that in order for a social movement to organize it must have strong leadership and sufficient resources.
  • One of the advantages of the political process theory is that it addresses the issue of timing or emergence of social movements.

• Leadership

  • Martin Luther King, Jr. is an example of an unofficial leader of a social movement--the Civil Rights Movement was a diffuse political movement, not a discrete organization, but King became the figurehead of the movement through his charismatic and influential leadership.
  • Interest groups may be broader than one formal organization, in which case advocacy may form a social movement.
  • A social movement is group action aimed at social change.
  • For example, the Civil Rights Movement was a diffuse and widespread effort toward social change, involving many formal organizations and informal groups.
  • Differentiate between the different kinds of leadership structures in interest groups and social movements.

• Democratic Socialism

  • On the other end, democratic socialism may refer to a system that uses democratic principles to organize workers in a firm or community (for example, in worker cooperatives).
  • The term is used by socialist movements and organizations to emphasize the democratic character of their political orientation.
  • Democratic socialism contrasts with political movements that resort to authoritarian means to achieve a transition to socialism.
  • Democratic socialism became a prominent movement at the end of the 19th century.
  • Debs, one of the most famous American socialists, led a movement centered around democratic socialism.

• Sources of Social Change

  • Social movement theories seek to explain how social movements form and develop.
  • Mobilization: this is the actual organizing and active component of the movement; people do what needs to be done in order to further their cause.
  • Diagnostic frame: the movement organization frames the problem—what they are critiquing
  • Prognostic frame: the movement organization frames the desirable solution to the problem
  • Motivational frame: the movement organization frames a "call to arms" by suggesting and encouraging that people take action

• Examples of Social Movements