SOCIAL MOVEMENTS AND POLITICAL CHANGE: A COMPARATIVE REVIEW

Abstract

Social movements have long been recognized as powerful drivers of political change, challenging established norms and advocating for societal transformation. This paper provides a comparative review of social movements and their impact on political change, drawing on theoretical frameworks such as resource mobilization theory, political process theory, and new social movement theory. The paper examines case studies of the Women's Suffrage Movement and the Civil Rights Movement, highlighting their strategies, goals, and impact on political change. It also discusses the challenges faced by social movements, including opposition from power structures and internal divisions. The limitations of the comparative approach in studying social movements are also discussed. Overall, this paper underscores the importance of social movements in shaping political landscapes and emphasizes the need for nuanced and context-specific analysis in studying their impact.