Social movements and social change

Abstract

Social movements contribute to social change through complex interactions with political opportunities and the institutions they aim to change. This paper reviews theories of social movements, emphasizing the importance of studying social movement change through the lens of interorganizational network approaches and institutional analysis. By analyzing how movements interact with their surrounding institutional context, researchers can better understand how they bring about changes in public policies, institutional and cultural practices, and the distribution of resources and power. The paper also discusses the methodological challenges involved in studying social movement change, including the need for longitudinal studies, multivariate analyses, careful sampling, and the integration of qualitative and quantitative data. By addressing these challenges, future research can provide a more comprehensive and nuanced understanding of the role of social movements in shaping social and political change. – AI-generated abstract.