This document defines and discusses key concepts related to social movements. It provides definitions of social movements as forms of collective action to address shared problems, noting they have a common political agenda, visible membership, and engage in collective actions over time to pursue goals. Non-governmental organizations are distinguished as voluntary service providers, while people's organizations have membership and promote members' interests. Civil society is described as the autonomous realm between the state and private sectors. The document concludes with an example of the successful social movement that overthrew the Marcos dictatorship in the Philippines.

1. Re-Imagining an Asian
Social Democracy____________________________________
A Framing Paper
What are Social Movements?

2. Let’s define
our terms.
First things
first:

3. Social movements
are forms of
collective action
to address
collective action problems

4. This guy isn’t
a social
movement.

5. These
people are.
Peasant-members of RIGHTS Network force their way to the
grounds of the House of Representatives to demand the passage of
CARPER (3 June 2009).

6. Social movements
are large and loosely
organized social
groupings that use
collective action to
advance their specific
program or agenda.
Civil rights activists march in Washington, DC to demand voting rights for
Blacks and an end to segregation (28 August 1963).

7. 1. Pursues a common political agenda or
‘common cause’.
2. Has a visible constituency or membership
base.
3. Involves members collectivized in either
formal or informal organizations.
4. Engages in collective actions and
activities in pursuit of the movement’s
political goals.
5. Uses a variety of actions and strategies.
6. Engages clear internal or external targets
in the change process.
7. Retains some continuity over time.
Defining features of
social movements:

8. “Social movements are
forms of collective action
that emerge in response
to situations
of inequality, oppression
and/or unmet social,
political, economic or
cultural demands.”
Bahati Kuumba
Gender and Social
Movements
Israeli military fire live bullets and tear gas canisters on
Palestinian protesters along the Gaza border demanding their
“right to return” (15 May 2018).

9. Social movements
use various forms
of action to
promote their
chosen
advocacies.
Ø Monitoring
Ø Legislative lobbying
Ø Coalition-building
Ø Boycott
Ø Street protest
Ø Armed uprising
Ø Electoral participation

10. Social movements
are NOT NGOs!
Social movements
can bring together
government officials
and civil society
leaders to work for a
“common cause.”

11. The term non-government
organization may “refer to
any voluntary organization
that is independent of both
the government and the
private business sectors.”
G. Sidney Silliman
and Lela Garner Noble
Organizing for Democracy

12. NGOs
vs.
POs
Non-government
organizations (NGOs)
are service providers
that extend specialized,
technical assistance to
communities and/or
citizens’ groups.
People’s organizations
(POs) are membership-
based organizations that
are meant promote the
interest of its members.

13. Civil
Society
The realm of autonomous
groups and associations.
A socio-political sphere that
is independent from the both
state and the private sector.
Source:
Andrew Heywood (2002)
Politics (Second Edition)

14. Public Realm Non-Public Realm
The state:
Apparatus of government
Civil society:
autonomous bodies,
trade unions, clubs, etc.

15. RECAP!
Social movements: collective action
to address collective action problems.
NGOs: voluntary organizations
distinct from both government and
the private sector.
POs: membership-organizations.
Civil society: Realm of autonomous
groups that is independent from both
the state and private sector.

16. Example from
Philippine
History
The anti-
dictatorship
struggle
was a successful
social movement.

17. Ø Common cause: overthrow the Marcos
dictatorship
Ø Multi-actor: ideologically diverse, from
various sectors, included street
parliamentarians and opposition politicians
Ø Multi-level: active at all levels of governance
Ø Multi-action: “mosquito press,” street
protests, boycott, electoral participation,
armed struggle, international lobbying and
solidarity work

18. TAKE NOTE!
Not all
social movements
are
progressive.

20. Para kanino tayo kumikilos?

21. Daghang Salamat!