Identify the stages in social movements and explain why social movements may be an important source ...

Answer to q. 1

There appear to be identifiable stages in virtually all movements that

succeed beyond their initial phase of development.

(1) In the preliminary (or incipiency) stage widespread unrest is present as people begin to

become aware of a problem. At this stage, leaders emerge to agitate others into taking

action.

(2) In the coalescence stage, people begin to organize and to publicize the problem. At this

stage, some movements become formally organized at local and regional levels.

(3) In the institutionalization (or bureaucratization) stage, an organizational structure

develops, and a paid staff (rather than volunteers) begins to lead the group. When the

movement reaches this stage, the initial zeal and idealism of members may diminish as

administrators take over management of the organization. Early grassroots supporters may

become disillusioned and drop out; they may also start another movement to address some

as-yet-unsolved aspect of the original problem.

Answer to q. 2

b

Answer to q. 3

TRUE

Answer to q. 4

Sociologists distinguish among movements on the basis of their goals and the amount of change they seek to produce. Some movements seek to change people whereas others seek to change society.

1 . Reform movements seek to improve society by changing some specific aspect of the social structure. Members of reform movements usually work within the existing system to attempt to change public policy so that it more adequately reflects their own value systems. Examples include labor movements, animal rights movements, and antinuclear movements.

2 . Revolutionary movements seek to bring about a total change in society. These movements usually do not attempt to work within the existing system; rather they aim to remake the system by replacing existing institutions with new ones. These movements range from utopian groups seeking to establish an ideal society to radical terrorists who use fear tactics to intimidate those with whom they disagree ideologically.

3 . Religious (expressive) movements seek to produce radical change in individuals and are typically based on spiritual or supernatural belief systems. These movements are concerned with renovating or renewing people through inner change. Fundamentalist religious groups seeking to convert nonbelievers to their belief system are examples of this type of movement. Some religious movements are millenarianthat is, they forecast that the end is near and assert that an immediate change in behavior is imperative. Relatively new religious movements include the Hare Krishnas, the Unification Church, and Scientology, all of which tend to appeal to the psychological and social needs of young people seeking meaning in life that mainstream religions have not provided for them.

4 . Alternative movements seek limited change in some aspect of people's behavior. For example, early in the 20th century the Women's Christian Temperance Union (led by Carrie Nation) attempted to get people to abstain from drinking alcoholic beverages. More recently, a variety of New Age movements have directed people's behavior by emphasizing spiritual consciousness combined with a belief in reincarnation and astrology. Such practices as vegetarianism, meditation, and holistic medicine are often included in the self-improvement category.

5 . Resistance (regressive) movements seek to prevent change or to undo change that has already occurred. Virtually all the proactive social movements face resistance from one or more reactive movements that hold opposing viewpoints and want to foster public policies that reflect their own beliefs.

Answer to q. 5

a

Answer to q. 6

FALSE

Answer to q. 7

Although collective behavior is short-lived and relatively unorganized, social

movements are longer lasting, are more organized, and have specific goals or

purposes. A social movement is an organized group that acts consciously to promote

or resist change through collective action. Social movements are more likely to

develop in industrialized societies than in preindustrial societies, where acceptance of

traditional beliefs and practices makes such movements unlikely.

Diversity and a lack of consensus (hallmarks of industrialized nations) contribute to

demands for social change, and people who participate in social movements typically

lack power and other resources to bring about change without engaging in collective

action.

Social movements are most likely to spring up when people come to see their personal

troubles as public issues that cannot be solved without a collective response. Social

movements make democracy more available to excluded groups. For example, the

civil rights movement brought into its ranks African Americans in the South who had

never been allowed to participate in politics. Also, the women's suffrage movement

gave voice to women who had been denied the right to vote. Most social movements

rely on volunteers to carry out the work. Social movements provide people who

otherwise would not have the resources to enter the game of politics a chance to do

so.

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