Social movements

Introduction

Social movements refer to loosely organized efforts by people to achieve particular goals (Staggenborg, 2016). That type of action is seen in specific causes resulting in changes through informal efforts to attain cultural, social, or political aims. The social movement theory explains the different reasons why social mobilization comes about, the various forms through which it manifests, and the potential political, cultural and social consequences, including the creation and subsequent functioning of social movements. Gustave LeBon, a leading sociologist in the 19th century, extensively studied social movements and developed the de-individuation model that argues that movements are random occurrences of different people trying to emotionally react to situations that are not in their control (Paltin, 2013). An additional theory, the social relative deprivation theory, explains that poverty is often a contributing factor to the formation of social movements. That happens with perceptions of deprivation of happiness and welfare (Smith and Oettigrew, 2015).

This essay explores four key characteristics of a social movement: social goal, call to action, organisation, and role of leader, and focuses explicitly on The Green Belt Movement. This movement was established in 1977 to create a sustainable environment led by Wangari Maathai and based in Africa (Maathai, 2003). Its goal is to develop environmental justice by improving sustainability within the community, giving the community a voice in a peaceful environment. Their goals, ideology, collective action, leaders, and the context in which they emerge to create collective action are explored. This choice of these four characteristics is informed by them being the most stable and common characteristics among movements. Each movement has a social goal, call to action, is highly organized, and a leader who is its face. It is worth noting that while social movements are varied, they share some common characteristics and are geared towards the perpetuation or stopping of political or social change. Generally, social movements have four key characteristics: social goals, call to action, organisation, and role of leader.

Social goal

Social movements have multiple goals which vary from one movement to another and respond to (seek to promote or oppose) existing political, corporate, cultural, religious, or educational systems of authority. While some social movements seek material benefits or rights for members whose democratic rights they want to expand, others pursue protections and advantages for potential beneficiaries, while some focus on local issues and others global issues. Social movement goals can be described as being either expressive- focused on their internal audiences- or instrumental- targeting external audiences (Jasper, 2013). The Green Belt Movement is an environmental organization with a social goal of empowering women and communities for environmental conservation and livelihood improvement purposes. The organization was started in recognition of the various stresses rural women in Africa face on a daily basis. Subsequently, the organization was founded in 1977 and primarily worked with women drawn from Kenya in community empowerment and environmental conservation efforts (greenbeltmovement, 2021). GBM was formed around the same period when Kenya was experiencing extreme deforestation, malnutrition, soil erosion, and immense political corruption (Makoba, 2018). Empowered by feminist politics, the movement empowered women from rural areas to be actively involved in the struggle for political change and environmental justice.

GBM also continuously advocates for increased political accountability and the expansion of Kenya’s democratic space. During the movement's most active years, it advocated ending corruption, deforestation, and land grabbing. It is worth noting that the movement has four main activity areas: Planting Trees and Harvesting Water, Gender Livelihood and advocacy, Mainstream advocacy, and Climate Change. GBM has worked with volunteers to address interwoven food security issues, fuelwood shortage, soil erosion, poverty, and clean water. Through the movement’s efforts, more than 50 million trees have been newly planted. Due to their multiplicity, social movement goals are not static as they constantly change- this poses the risk of tension arising between a social movement’s goals and its members. Potential goal conflicts further add to the dynamics of social movements.

Call to action

The call to action refers to the stimulus and exhortation to take specific action to facilitate the achievement of specific aims and deal with specific goals. The Green Belt Movement has a Climate Change Program aimed at strengthening local communities' understanding and capacities of environmental issues to take action against climate change. That is in addition to raising national awareness on the roles of local communities in dealing with the issue of climate change. The movement sees the current climate change policies in Kenya as inadequate in providing effective support for the engagement of communities in making decisions and environmental conservation.

Social movements mobilize organizations and individual actors to undertake various actions aimed at challenging institutional authority or altering power deficits, through what Tilly (2010) identifies as the three main elements of social movements. They include sustained claim-making campaigns, various public performances (such as rallies, demonstrations, marches, public meetings, blockades, picketing, lobbying, letter- and statement writing, coalitions, and so on). They also include the repetitive demonstration of worthiness, unity, numbers, and commitment through actions such as chanting slogans, wearing colors and badges that advertise the cause, picketing public places, displaying signs and through militant songs (Tilly, 2010).

The actions undertaken will vary depending on their ability to challenge institutional authority and alter power deficits to effectively achieve the social movement goals of accountability, enhancing voice, and empowerment.

Organization

Despite taking a small form when they begin, social movements gradually take an organized form. Organization is a key characteristic of social movements as, without it, social movements would not be able to achieve their goals. Bayat (2000) posits that social movements are organized collectives, distinct from spontaneous collective action involving individuals who share an idea but do not have a common logic, goal, organization, or leadership. Bayat’s (2010) notion is supported by Hyams, who also described social movements as complex and dynamic systems of collective behavior whose components of social society, social structure, and social ideology distinguish them from other forms of collective actions. Therefore, for social movements to realize their goals, they must be organized to sustain themselves (Batliwala, 2012; Snow, 2013). The organization of social movements involves their being based on certain existing formal or informal organizational networks or structures, despite the varying degree to which they employ non-institutional strategies or tactics, and operating with some degree of organization (Snow, 2013). Additionally, social movements achieve and demonstrate organization by establishing themselves as collective enterprises that are change-oriented and which exhibit an extent of continuity over time (Snow, 2013). Within the Green Belt Movement, a grassroots organization approach is combined with international advocacy to create climate-resilient communities, advocate for suitable environmental policies at the international level, and increase political awareness (The Green Belt Movement, 2017).

Organization contributes to increasing the significance of social movements. Organized social movements push for better governance, enhance citizen participation and voice. They develop a sense of self-identity and citizenship, establish collective power through numbers and solidarity, which is key in promoting democracy, and enable citizens to learn about important issues of significance to them. Organized social movements in Kenya and other countries have fought corruption, discriminatory and repressive government practices, and mismanagement of development and promoted the conservation and preservation of the environment and green spaces (Stephan, Mukhani, and Naviwala, 2015).

Role of leader

Social movements are a result of an individual’s thoughts. This single individual whose thoughts result in the emergence of a social movement becomes its leader, following which other leaders- both big and small- emerge as the movement grows. Leaders play an instrumental role in starting, leading, advancing, and ensuring the continuity of social movements. By socially constructing meanings, sharing stories, and exploring new ideas, leaders can successfully develop their capacities of persuading others to join them in their movements and campaigns.

Professor Wangari Maathai founded the Green Belt Movement back in 1977 and continued to be its face for the rest of her life. Professor Maathai actively called for women to come together for purposesof growing seedlings and planting trees which would go a long way in preventing erosion, storing rain water, and provision of food and firewood. They would receive small monetary tokens for their efforts.

In 2004, Professor Maathai was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, which raised the Green Belt Movements profile across the globe. After being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, Professor Wangari was subsequently appointed as the Congo Basins Forest Ecosystem Goodwill ambassador. She also authored different books including, The Green Belt Movement Unbowed, The Challenge for Africa, and Replenishing the Earth, and was behind the documentary Taking Root: The Vision of Wangari Maathai, went a long way in expanding on and deepening on the concepts that were behind the activities of the Green Belt Movement and the approaches it adopted (Maathai, 2006).

Maathai endured threats to her life, beatings, public humiliation, gunshots for her dedication to fighting for democratic governance and environmental justice with the Green Belt Movement. To date, Professor Maathai's efforts in environmental conservation in Kenta continue to be recognized. Her work with the Green Belt Movement still stands as a testament to grassroots mobilization's immense potential. That is enough evidence of the transformative potential of an individual’s simple ideas. Professor Maathai was of the idea that communities come together for the purposes of planting trees. Her legacy still lives on through the movement to date. It still advocates for the conservation of the environment in Kenya and is making progress towards reclamation and restoration of forest land.

Conclusion

Social movements worldwide have been identified as complex, dynamic, and powerful drivers of change concerning various political, social, economic, environmental, or religious issues affecting society. Social movements share common characteristics, such as social goals, organization, call to action, and role of leader, which have been highlighted in this paper. As vital components in the change and reform processes, social movements aim to enhance the voiceless's voice, challenge institutional authority, and alter power deficits by promoting inclusivity and collectively voicing the common interests of the marginalized, excluded, and powerless sections of the society. Social movements are also an important aspect of society. They mobilize individuals and organizations to undertake collective action to promote and realize equality through access to and control of resources. That is in addition to fair access to opportunities, basic services, proper working conditions, and enhanced political representation that promotes social and political identity. Therefore, individuals and organizations should be encouraged to develop a (social) movement mindset that would result in new ideas, visions, and engagements that further progressive social change and common goals.

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