Overview of Social and Political Movements

• Social movements work to solve specific social problems like child marriage, dowry and malnutrition.
• Different movements can cooperate with each other to become more effective.
• Social problems like poverty and malnutrition need priority attention through collective efforts.
• Political parties deal with all issues of society together and follow a comprehensive national approach.

Some people focus on a particular issue and pursue it. They organise people and try to pressure the government to resolve that issue. They constantly follow up on the issue, build public opinion about it, and thereby put pressure on political parties and the government. This type of organised activity is called a movement.

• Movements arise because not all people can participate in political parties or governance.
• A movement is an organised collective action focused on a specific issue or social problem.
• Movements build public opinion and pressure the government to take action.
• They are important in a democracy as they bring social problems into public discussion.
• Movements help the government by providing information useful for policy-making.
• The right to protest is a democratic right and must be used peacefully and responsibly.
• Social, political and economic movements (like the freedom struggle and the Swadeshi movement) have played a major role in social change in India.

• Tribal movements demand rights over forests and forest land.
• Farmers’ movements demand fair prices, debt relief and agricultural reforms.
• Labour movement works for workers’ rights and better working conditions.
• Women’s movement fights for equality, dignity and empowerment of women.
• Environmental movements aim to protect forests, water and biodiversity.
• Consumer movement protects consumers from fraud and exploitation.
• Post-1980 movements are called neo-social movements and are issue-based.