A social movement has which of the following features?
A. structure and leadership
B. sustained collective action
C. Aim of bringing about changes on a specific issue
D. standard mode of protest with no room for innovation
E. Shared understanding
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → A, B, C, E only
A. structure and leadership Correct. Collective action must be marked by some degree of organisation. This organisation may include a leadership and a structure that defines how members relate to each other, make decisions and carry them out.
B. sustained collective action Correct. A social movement requires sustained collective action over time. Spontaneous, disorganised protest that dies out cannot be called a social movement.
C. Aim of bringing about changes on a specific issue Correct. Social movements often arise with the aim of bringing about changes on a public issue, such as the right of the tribal population to use the forests or the right of displaced people to settlement and compensation.
D. standard mode of protest with no room for innovation Incorrect. Social movements develop distinct modes of protest – candle and torch light processions, black cloth, street theatre, songs and poetry. Gandhi adopted novel ways such as ahimsa, satyagraha and the charkha, so innovation is part of a movement, not something it lacks.
E. Shared understanding Correct. Those taking part have shared objectives and ideologies. Meetings that mobilise people help this shared understanding and prepare a feeling of agreement about how to pursue the collective agenda.
NCERT (2025-26): “8.1 Features of a Social Movement … A social movement requires sustained collective action over time. Such action is often directed against the state and takes the form of demanding changes in state policy or practice. Spontaneous, disorganised protest cannot be called a social movement either. Collective action must be marked by some degree of organisation. This organisation may include a leadership and a structure that defines how members relate to each other, make decisions and carry them out. Those participating in a social movement also have shared objectives and ideologies. A social movement has a general orientation or way of approaching to bring about (or to prevent) change. These defining features are not constant. They may change over the course of a social movement’s life. Social movements often arise with the aim of bringing about changes on a public issue, such as ensuring the right of the tribal population to use the forests or the right of displaced people to settlement and compensation.…” “…Social movements also develop distinct modes of protest. This could be candle and torch light processions, use of black cloth, street theatres, songs, poetry. Gandhi adopted novel ways such as ahimsa, satyagraha and his use of the charkha in the freedom movement.…” |