Social Movement, Charachterisitics, Goals, Purposes, Powerless - International Ataturk Alatoo University, International Relations, Political science and Political theory

1. International Atatürk Alatoo University
Department of International Relations
Political Science and Political Theory
Social Movements
Students: Manas Abdibaliev
Lecturer: Ibrahim Koncak
Bishkek 2016

2. What are Social Movements?
Loosely or tightly organized collective efforts by
relatively powerless groups to affect social or
political change operating outside of
institutionalized political channels.

4. Characteristics of SM
• Operate primarily outside institutional
political systems
• Arise due to a group’s exclusion from “normal”
institutional political channels
• Are always resisted by those in positions of
power and privilege (when it is a movement
that threatens said power and privilege)

5. Purposes of SM
1. Redistribute material resources more
equitably
2. Gain full citizenship
3. Re-define society’s values, norms, and
priorities
4. To take what they want
5. To do what they want

7. Source of SM Power
• How do powerless people exercise power?
• By withholding their consent
– Refusing to participate in everyday life
– Denying others their labor
– Most effective when done collectively

8. “You must be
the change
you wish to see
in the world.”
-Gandhi

9. Why is withholding consent or
compliance powerful?
Powerful people only have the power
we allow them to have when we
comply.

10. How do powerless people
exercise power?

11. “Power
concedes
nothing
without a
demand.”
-Frederick Douglas

12. Tactics and Strategies
• Civil disobedience (Purposefully and openly violating
the law)
• Street protests (Marches, parades, rallies, etc.)
• Strikes (Refusing to work to force employer to
concede)
• Boycotts (Refusing to shop, buy, or patronize a
targeted enterprise)
• Property destruction (Intentional damage done to
public or private property)
• Violence (Use of physical force or power against
another)

14. Elite Responses to SM
• Repression
– Using violent and non-violent means (e.g. arrests, intimidation,
military force, etc.)
• Co-optation
– Taking over issues or leaders by adopting movement issues or
recruiting its leaders
• De-legitimizing Strategies
– Applying labels like “communist,” “terrorist,” or “radical” to
leaders or movement goals to undermine legitimacy of
movement demands
• Covert Efforts
– To infiltrate or sabotage through use of FBI, CIA, or paid
informants to undermine movement organizations

15. Thank you !!!