Question

1) Discuss a social movement of your choosing, current or historical, using concepts from the text. How would you classify the movement (i.e. revolutionary, reform, reactionary, etc.) and why? In your view, what factors have contributed or will contribute to this movements success or failure? How might this movement be changed to produce positive social change?

(150 – 300 words (approximately)

Answer 1

Answer 1.

In the Modern Western society, there have been a series of mass mobilisation of grounds of seeking radical, reformatory or revolutionary changes in the order of social hierarchy, discrimination or denial of civil liberties. However, in the recent time, as environmental degradation has become a pressing concern, more and more groups of people have begun to initiate organised social campaigns to influence government policies on the quality of the environment. One such social movement is the 19th century anti-technology Luddites movement which is opposed to the spread of the genetically modified (GMO) food. The movement exemplifies a type of conservative movement as it is aimed to fight specific technological changes. The movements is local in its scope as the activities are focused on local or regional objectives, such as protesting agianst the introduction of a specific GMO crop or product in the market, lobbying with state officials, etc.

It is seen that like other social movements, the movement against GMO foods has also became possible through education and increased mobility of public opinion due to the technology offered by social media. It thus appears that the freedom of expression, education and relative economic independence prevalent in the modern Western society have facilitated in the success of this campaign in many parts of the world where an unprecedented number of citizens have compelled their governments to revoke the trade agreements with major farm corps like Monsnato.