Do you agree that social movements are caused by opportunity structures that are generated by media? Why?. (UPSC CSE Mains 2019 - Sociology, Paper 2)
The Tocqueville effect is the phenomenon in which, as social conditions and opportunities improve, social frustration grows more quickly.
The Impact of Media on Social Movements
- The best example media, especially social media, were used in the Arab Spring protests of early 2011 wherein the youth in the Arab countries leveraged the power of media to overthrow despotic rulers.
- Given the fact that such rulers always resort to media manipulation to further their ideology and retain their grip on power, the options before the citizenry in such countries are very limited. Hence, any media that supports their cause and furthers their aims is a favourite with the protest movements.
- The other example of how the internet and social media can be used in the pursuit of progressive goals is the way in which President Obama uses these media to communicate with his supporters.
- Another example is role of media during ANNA ANDOLAN 2011, against corruption in India.
- The other aspect about media and its role in social movements is the power of transmission and repetition of the message of the social activists. Given the rapid dissemination of messages on Twitter and Facebook and the fact that television gives an instant image of the protests or the movements, media can indeed play a prominent role in ensuring that social movements are covered well.
- Activists and social leaders need to be careful of how they use media and how the media uses them. The best example of this is the way in which the anti-corruption movement in India lost support from the media after the initial euphoria. This was because the media jumps from issue to issue given the way in which the 24/7 news cycle and breaking news rhythms are structured
Social Networks and Media for Mobilizing Structures
- First and foremost, social movements need organization and resources. Resource mobilization theory argues that resources – such as time, money, organizational skills, and certain social or political opportunities – are critical to the formation and success of social movements.
- The relationship between the media and social movements are of critical importance. Gamson and Wolfs Felddescribed the three major purposes of the media in social movements as: mobilization, validation, and scope enlargement.
- The relationship between social networks, the media, and social movements, is now replaced by social media.
- Critics of Shirky argue that social media, in fact has not revolutionized the popular mobilization system. Social movements have happened all over the world and in different times throughout human history, with or without social media.
- Opportunity structures provide the motivation for movement organization through its social, economic, and institutional contexts. They are underlying conditions that favor social movement by creating individual grievances.
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