Introduction
Smith and Dawn realized that there has been an increasing trend in the development of social movements in the world. Citizens of a country, with the same agenda or grievances were coming together to develop movements into which they will use to air their views either in protests or insurgencies. Studies reveal that there has been the development of different kind of movements, for example gay, students and political movements (Swindler, n.d.). Due to the increasing trend in the formation of these movements, scientist and researchers have tried to come up with explanations on what are the main influences of these movements. What makes people come together and form movements?
Problem Statement
Some social movements are of negative effects in the growth of a countries economy. Looking at the social movements that have been established in Egypt and Pakistan this movements have led to protests which has in turn led to insurgencies that has caused the death of thousands of people. Moreover, the country’s economy, especially in Egypt was brought to its knees.Therefore, though these movements are of great importance it effects are sometimes detrimental to the society as a whole. Studies reveal that there is an increasing trend in the formation of social movements (Hood, 1976). If restrictions are not put in place to prevent the increasing trend countries are in great danger of being destroyed by protests and insurgencies caused by the movements. In order to reduce the formation of these social movements a deep understanding on what shapes collective actions is needed
Thesis Statement
Several studies have been done to determine the main concept that shapes the formation of social movements. From the studies it is clear that culture is the main concept. Therefore, culture is the fundamental concept that shapes the formation of social movements
Definition of Terms
In order to understand the research well definitions for the key terms are needed. The first term that is mainly used in this study is culture. Culture has more than one definition depending on how people perceive it. However, it is important to note that the definition of culture must have both social experience and structures. Therefore, culture can be defined as socially organized practices (Zhao, 2010).
The second term is social movements is said to be a group of individuals who have the same thought try to merge so as to achieve a certain objectives. Studies reveal that as time goes the structure and formation of the movements change (Van Male&d'Anjou, 1998). Thirdly, there is the use of emotions which has different definitions. The first definition presented by some scholars is that emotions arenatural sensations that come from the body and can’t be regulated by those who have it. In this case emotions prevent a person from making wise and rational decisions. On the other hand, entail the deepest desires of a person. It is said to be influenced by culture (Jasper, 1998). Lastly, there is the collective identity which is said to be a person’s
cognitive, moral and emotional connection with a broader community category, practice, or institution. It is an insight of a shared status or relation which may be imagined rather than experienced directly and it is distinct from personal identities, although it may form part of a personal identity (Jasper &Polletta, 2001, 285).
Literature Review
Jasper (1998) has a different approach towards protests and what motivates them. Apart from culture being central in affecting the social movements, there are other factors that contribute to the formation and participation of students and other people in social protest movements. One of these factors is the strong emotions that accompany protests. Jasper (1998) points out that emotions are part and parcel of protests and all social action. They are also important part of the social movements since they provide them with motivation and goals without rendering them irrational. It has been noted that social movements are actually affected by context-specific emotions, more often than not reactions to events and information along with loyalties and more unwavering affective bonds (Jasper, 1998).
It has also been argued that emotions should not be included as one of the factors used by studying protestors to achieve their goals. The main argument in this case is that emotions make the protestors irrational. However, it should be noted that emotions are a vital part of the human life. People respond to events and situations differently. Even the daily routines that seem to be neutral can provoke violent emotional responses in case they are interrupted. Therefore, emotional response is part and parcel of the human life and one of the mechanisms used to shape and achieve the various goals of people’s actions. Emotions therefore affect social movements in one way or another since there are negative and positive emotions, hidden and public ones, despicable and admirable ones. The absence of these emotions may result in no social action or movement at all (Jasper, 1998).
Sociologists have taken a kin interest on emotions being culturally constructed and therefore coupled with cognitive appraisals. For any social movement protest group or lobby to succeed, the participants ought to react or respond to some situations as a result of being emotional. It is documented that virtually all protests and social movements make use of emotion as a cognitive ability to achieve and shape their goals. It has actually become as a culture in any protests. For instance, the Carnivalesque protest that emerged as a sociologist regime in Germany and Poland in the 1980s portrayed a good use of emotion to win more members into the group. This was achieved through the use of humor, satire and comedy and succeeded in pulling by standers in the streets into the protest in repressive regimes. The wider understanding taken by Flam & King (2005) is that emotions are political, social and cultural constructs (Flam & King, 2005).
Another factor that cannot be avoided when it comes to social movements is the role of collective identity. Collective identity has been a factor under study by sociologists of social movements with an aim of determining the role it plays. Polletta and Jasper (2011) point out that collective identity does not make the protestors irrational but rather mobilizes them through the sharing of a common interest. For example, it is indicated that the issue of abortion provoked a widespread mobilization throughout the United States than any other group had achieved before. The way this is achieved is through having a collective identity on a particular stand or issue. The people who support one side of the coin such as those who are against abortion being legalized identify themselves collectively and thus make a social movement. Their movement is not based on irrational judgment but rather a common stand or ideology on a particular issue (Polletta & Jasper, 2011).
Collective identity is therefore one of the factors that contribute to the emergence of social movements. They explain how the common interests came up among individuals until they formed a social movement. As opposed to material incentives that some social movements adopt in order to have active participants, collective identity seemed to be appealing and persuasive to individuals making them get involved voluntarily. This factor is explained by Polletta and Jasper (2011) as one that identifies the participants in any social movement as who they are. It also noted that if people participate in social movements or protests as a collective identity with regard to who they are, then the forms of protest chosen are most likely influenced by collective identity. thus, collective identity does not only play a role in mobilizing and bringing people together for a common goal, but also influences their forms of protests (Polletta & Jasper, 2011).
However, collective identity has also been used as a way of determining the effects of cultural movements in the society as explained by Polletta & Jasper (2011). This article points out that movements alter cultural representations and some other social norms such as how organizations see themselves and how others see them. it is indicated that study has documented that changes in collective identity captured social movement or protest impacts further than institutional reforms. Therefore, the role of collective identity in social movements’ trajectories, emergence and outcomes is wide (Tilly, 1978).
Socialists have been in the quest of finding out the main concept that influences the formation of social movements. It is stated that culture is the main concept that influences the formation of this movements (Zhao, 2010). Students movements in China are said to have been influenced by Chinese traditional culture. Swindler argues that culture has been of great significance in the formation of students movements. She also argues that culture brings out a good definition of common identity and mobilization. It is the initial concept that allows people to mobilize and gather resources for the formation of these social movements (Swindler, 1995).
In support of Swindler’s view is Zhao who states that culture defines the formation of social movements in several mechanisms. These mechanisms are “problem solving tool kits, as scripts and instincts” (Zhao, 2010, 33). Though social movements may entail all the mechanisms, the significance of the mechanisms is dependent on the structure of the society. Therefore, social movements which do not have a well-developed structure are likely to follow certain script. Zhao argues that culture is the most significant feature of social movements. He states that all the activities that are carried out by these movements are influenced by culture. He further argues that with time social movements develop their own culture which may in turn cause changes in the culture of a society. The development of cultures in the society always leads to the formation of new movements. Using Chinese movements it is evident that culture is the main concept that influences the formation and patterns of a movement. In the 1989 movement that took place in China, researchers and Chinese scholars revealed that the activities and languages that were used in the movement that led to the riot were all related to the traditional Chinese culture. When Zhao analyzed this movement with that of December 9th he realized that they were different in the way they were carried out. While the first movement protested in the open without fear, the one of 9th waited for the opportune time to do so. However, despite the indifference he stated that the main item that bound the two items was the fact that both had Chinese culture in it (Zhao, 2010). To further strengthen this argument Van Male&d'Anjou, 1998 states that current social movements are not established on the basis of structure which involve networks and interactions, but it is as a result of culture. He states that for people to come up with a movement they have to establish common aims and focus. They are required to out into writing what they want to be changed and what is needed in order to bring out the desired changes. Though many scholars argue that social movements are as a result of these activities, Van Male&d'Anjou state that social movements are established by cultures. All the activities have culture as their main capstone
The first scholars stated that mobilization was the main reason as to why the movements were created. They said that the formation of social movements depended on mobilization since this aspect enabled them to gather resources together and establish the movement. Gould (1998) argues that mobilizations come as a result of common identities between people. When people with common identities meet they can mobilize their resources and start a movement. In order to acquire a deep understanding on this issue other researchers have tried to understand and analyze the formation of networks. The scholars state that people with common identities in terms of sex, class and nation form networks. However, though this argument seems substantial it does not quite explain why mobilization is the main concept. As a result, of this many things have been left undecided and undetermined (Jasper &Polletta, 2001).
Therefore, it is very difficult to argue that common identity is the main concept in developing social movements. Studies reveal that common identities have its basis on culture. For people to develop a common identity such as class or gay they have to have to be influenced by the same culture. Thus, though there may be many aspects like that of mobilization, collective identities and emotions all of them emanate from culture (Wieviorka, 1984). They all have culture as there fundamental principal. So, it can be stated that culture is the key concept that influences the formation social movements. With such an understanding it will be easy to reduce the emergence of the social movements.
Analysis and Interpretation
Those that support mobilization argue that people with a common identity come together and mobilize resources. When doing this research focused on the how and they neglected the why. It is also not easy to show where the members of the movement especially in insurgencies obtained there resources. As a result, many things were left untouched and thus their arguments became shallow. Unlike their counterparts, those that argue in favor of collective identity did a thorough research in that they established four questions that strengthen their argument.
When mobilization had been refuted and turned down scholars focused on identity. However, when a close scrutiny is done on collective identity it can be realized that it is mainly influenced by culture. People emotions morals and cognitive development are greatly influenced by culture. Therefore, it can be stated that culture is the main aspect that influences the establishment of social movements.
References:
d'Anjou, L. & Van Male, J. (1998). Between Old and New: Social Movements and Cultural Change. Mobilization: An International Journal, 3(2), 207-226.
Flam, H. & King, D. (2005). Emotions and Social Movements. New York, NY: Routledge.
Hood, J. N. (1976). Patterns of Popular Protest in the French Revolution: The Conceptual Contribution of the Gard. The Journal of Modern History 48(2), 259-293.
Japer, J. M. (1998). The Emotions of Protest: Affective and Reactive Emotions In and Around Social Movements. Sociological Forum 13 (3), 397-423.
Polletta, F. & Jasper, J. M. (2011). Collective Identity and Social movements. Annual Reviews of Sociology 27, 283–305.
Swindler, A. (n.d.).Cultural Power and Social Movements. Retrieved on 12 April, 2013 http://publicsociology.berkeley.edu/publications/producing/swidler.pdf
Tilly, C. (1978). The Routinization of Protest in Nineteenth-Century France. CRSO Working Paper 181, 1-18.
Wieviorka, M. (1984). Three Phases in the Emergence of A Student-Based Social Movement in France. European Journal of Education 19(3), 327-341.
Zhao, D. (2010). Theorizing the Role of Culture in Social Movements: Illustrated by Protests and Contentions in Modern China. Social Movement Studies 9(1), 33–50.
