Learning Lessons from the History of Social Change
The reasons or factors that contribute to the success of social movements are that they see an issue, or series of issues and have creative ways to solve the problems. Most of the time there is an opportunity which involves political involvement, timing, and of course the ability to organize others to stand for the cause. Timing has to be a factor in the success of social movement, because if the issue is raised at the wrong time, it may not be able to gain momentum for others to back the change. ("Factors That Contribute To Success")
There needs to be a favorable condition that has lasted for quite some time. For example, the ending of slavery in the United States, and the treatment of equal rights for black Americans was a very important social movement. However, the equal rights could not have been possible as long as slavery was still in place. Equal rights were important so that African-Americans were no longer treated like second class citizens, made to sit, eat, and shop at separated establishments. ("8 Stages Of Successful Social Movements")
Rosa Parks was influential in raising awareness for the desperation of the races. People who knew her began backing her, and one by one her stand was able to take form through a delicate web of inducements by individuals who knew someone who knew someone else, and finally rested on those who could do something about the issue. If that issue were brought into the media today, it would be a similar story of who knows someone to get the issue changed and a public outcry would force the politicians to do something about it. Social media is one form of micro-mobilization that is actually a way to start and manage issues in a macro-social movement sort of way. It is important to note that social media is the way to get things done nowadays. Through the help of digital media sources, the real issues are able to be spread across country borders. ("8 Stages Of Successful Social Movements")
Resources
"8 Stages Of Successful Social Movements". Reach and Teach's Just Lists. N.p., 2009. Web. 18 Apr. 2016.
"Factors That Contribute To Success". Endvawnow.org. N.p., 2016. Web. 18 Apr. 2016.
