(855) 4-ESSAYS

Type a new keyword(s) and press Enter to search

Social Movements and Politics

            The second half of the 20th century saw an abundance of social and political change that had not been seen in western society before which had been caused by social movements. In this essay I will explain why this change has happened and continues to happen, why it is influenced by society and most importantly the impact it has had on politics and society as a whole.
             Since the 1960's there has been a notable increase in the level of political participation of general populations across the world an example being the civil rights movement in the US and many feminist movements that were active at the time. Many sociologists have inferred that this is not a coincidence in itself and instead is due to the formation of a growing 'movement society' or an increase in social movements. This is significant as there is a historical, political and cultural motive for the formation of this movement culture which continues to this day. (Della Porta, 2006:2).
             Neil Smelser (1962), a sociologist well known for his structural functionalist view of Social Movements agreed that social movements are not random occurrences but occur in very certain instances. These instances are when society is subjected to accelerated changes in its structure; if we look at western society as a balanced system of control if something occurs that unbalances the system in the short term the collective tensions caused by this unbalancing or change cannot be resolved quickly enough, which is seen to be why collective social movements form to combat this change (Della Porta, 2006:7). This theory of the structuration of social movements does give detailed reasoning into why they are formed but implies that every social movement occurs because of rapid social or political change which is not the case, many social movements have formed after years of oppressive social norms such at the Suffragettes movement in the late 19th and early 20th century when women were staging protests for equal rights.


Essays Related to Social Movements and Politics

1. Social Movements And Political

The Canadian electorate, therefore, has become disillusioned with political parties and social movements have emerged as key actors in the promotion of political change and alternative representation. The rise of social movements, beginning in the 1960's, has forced political parties to address their issues and demands. ... The rise of social movements such as the women's and the gay and lesbian rights movements will illustrate how the various political parties have reacted differently in addressing these concerns. ... These social movements challenge and reconsider social prioritie...

  • Word Count: 1990
  • Approx Pages: 8
  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

2. social movements and political

The rise of social movements, beginning in the 1960's, has forced political parties to address their issues and demands. ... The rise of social movements such as the women's and the gay and lesbian rights movements will illustrate how the various political parties have reacted differently in addressing these concerns. ... As a result, other collective political forces, such as social movements, have emerged to represent interests, voice concerns and demand redress . ... These social movements challenge and reconsider social priorities. ... Thus, in Canada, the acceptance of social...

  • Word Count: 3983
  • Approx Pages: 16
  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

3. Origins and Growth of New Social Movements

Character of New Social Movements 1. ... The New Social Movements are transnational movements. ... New Social Movements generally abandon both the industrial worker's model of union organization and the political model of political parties. New Social Movements generally evolve a grassroots politics, grass root actions, often initiative micro-movements of small groups, targeting localized issues with a limited institutional base. ... New Social Movement are less socio-political and more social cultural. ...

  • Word Count: 1245
  • Approx Pages: 5
  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

4. Haitian Social Movements

The United States occupation of Haiti from 1914 until 1934 had a great effect on Haiti's political and social climate. ... The racial pride eventually led to the emergence of a number of social movements particularly nationalism and noirisme which created social change in the years following the occupation. In understanding why these movements came about, Haiti's past, particularly the colonial social structure that led to the post colonial social structure, must be examined. ... These movements quickly evolved from being protest movements against foreign invaders to opposing mo...

  • Word Count: 2332
  • Approx Pages: 9
  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

5. The Changing Face Of Social Movements In Australia: Activism

Social movements are brought on by various forms of civil disobedience which Thoreau (cited in Goodman, 2002) describes as a "responsibility, not a right in the face of injustice". ... In the last part of the essay I will be examining one of more recent global social movements, the anti-war protests, I will also explore the new methods that are being used to create and promote worldwide civil disobedience and social action. ... The social movements for the rights of indigenous people were forged through numerous avenues. ... New and reoccurring social movements have been given a face lift...

  • Word Count: 1530
  • Approx Pages: 6
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

6. Expanding Democracy Through Reform Movements

The Second Great Awakening sparked innovative reform movements that expanded democratic ideals socially and politically.. ... Reform movements expanded democratic ideals politically as well as through temperance reforms, demonstrated prejudice against foreigners, and abolition movements. ... American "nativists" rallied for political action. ... These reform movements during the Second Great Awakening, as well as social and political movements, were desperately needed to expand democracy in the United States between 1825- 1850. ... Arousing and successfully changing ideas promoted by the Se...

  • Word Count: 1328
  • Approx Pages: 5

7. The political, social and economic affects of Mao

Compare and Analyze the political, social and economic affects of Mao's regime from 1950-1957. With this investigation I seek to compare and evaluate the political, economic and social effects of Mao's regime. ... The objectives of each plan will be discussed with emphasis on the political, economic and social effects. ... These all had huge political, economic and social effects on the country of China. ... The land reform movements also had huge social effects, which would in turn increase the political effects of this movement. ...

  • Word Count: 2169
  • Approx Pages: 9
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: High School

8. Religious and Social Movements

Sexual values of one nation are influenced by man numerous factors which are include religion, community, knowledge, and political as well as social movements. In my paper, I would like to talk about the religion, social movements of Denmark and how they influence the Danes perspective of sexuality. ... Social Movement Social movements such as the Sexual liberation movement affect sexual values by increased acceptance of sex outside of traditional heterosexual and monogamous relationship. ... Danes believe spirit or life force rather than religion, which give a good explaining for why social ...

  • Word Count: 1098
  • Approx Pages: 4
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

9. The Rise of Social Movements in WW2

While going into the background, history, and causes for the war is not necessary for this essay, it is important to realize that the systems in place during the pre-war period were essentially political "boiling pots" and these tensions carried over through the war into post war circumstances to shape new social movements. Many new political pressures arose during the rise of the New Social Movements and the level of comfort that the world had gotten used to by living under the old world order would be drastically changed by new social reformatory ideas with radical and lively leaders steerin...

  • Word Count: 8195
  • Approx Pages: 33

Got a writing question? Ask our professional writer!
Submit My Question