To What Extent Are Social Movements Important for Democracy?

This essay explores the significance of social movements in strengthening democracy, particularly within the Australian context. It examines various social movements, such as those advocating for women's rights, indigenous rights, and peace, and analyzes their impact on political and social reforms. The paper highlights the role of social movements in addressing societal issues, influencing government policies, and promoting citizen participation. It also reviews the relationship between social movements and democracy, considering different perspectives and the potential for both positive and negative consequences. The essay concludes that social movements are crucial for maintaining peace, promoting equality, and enhancing the well-being of citizens, while emphasizing the importance of cooperation between the public and political institutions for effective change. The methodology includes a qualitative approach using secondary sources such as books, journals, and the internet to understand the extent to which social movements are important for ideology.

To what extend are social
movements important for
democracy

TABLE OF CONTENTS
BACKGROUND AND INTRODUCTION....................................................................................3
LITERATURE REVIEW................................................................................................................4
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................8

BACKGROUND AND INTRODUCTION
Social movements are the large groups of individual that focuses on certain political and
social issues. In context to Australia, they emerged quickly and exerted a rapid influence on the
development of the society. There were numerous apparent motion that took place in the country
for various causes such as for peace, women' rights, gay liberation and for rights of aboriginal
and Torres strait islander people. Social movement has been increased after 1960 when a new
form of politics arises in the country. It was the period when many Australian women began to
interrogate the restrictive roles they were assigned (Ercan, Hendriks & Boswell, 2017). Further
in late 60's, reform campaign for indigenous people had started. It has been observed that around
97% people voted for accepting Aboriginals and Torres Strait islander people as citizens of
Australia. These reforms had a strong influence on the contemporary politics. The history of the
movements impacts on so many laws imposed by the government.
Campaigns on social and political issues are very helpful in assisting the common people
because of their calibre to bring improvement in the illegitimate and wrongful that are happening
with them. These are the ways in which they can reflect any mishap which they are facing. In
this research paper, the importance of social movement for democracy will be evaluated. In this
report, the roles that are played by the movements will be explained so that their impact on
democracy can be understand. Besides this, the relationship between these reforms and the
democracy will be identified in this paper. The main aim of this research to identify the extent to
which the social movements are important for ideology. For understanding the significance,
different reforms of varying time period will be studies so that effectiveness can be checked. The
methodology that will be used in conducting the research is qualitative. Further, the data will be
collected from the secondary sources such as books, journals, internet, etc. Also, to prepare a
systematic plan, the beliefs, values and ethics will be considered in the study. In addition to this,
the situation before the movement and after it, will be analysed. Different perspectives of people
will also be analysed to evaluate the significance of social campaigns. These viewpoints will be
then processed to gain the objective of the research.

LITERATURE REVIEW
According to Polletta (2016), social movements plays crucial role in strengthening the
democracy. In many ways, campaigns are the engines that drives the society towards continuous
improvement. These reforms becomes more fruitful when they raises for the issues such as
education, health services, women's rights, indigenous rights, etc. For example- "Close the Gap",
a social movement that took place in 2006 for the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Islander people
of Australia. It was the major issue that was supported by a large mass of people. Because of this
campaign, the indigenous people were able to get the equal opportunities of health services.
Also, the long-term impacts that generated due to this will benefit the Aboriginals by getting
equal rights and opportunities of employment.
In addition to this, Grosser, (2016) explained that the value of conducting movement can
be observed from the changed conditions of women. Initially when they were restricted to
perform the tasks assigned to them are now free to do whatever they wish. This campaign
provides the country with some really big achievements in different fields. Hence, the
movements are argued to be influential in promoting democracy as they are the open, collective
and sustained challenges to prevail the ways of doing things. There are number of benefits which
can be grind for the democracy by conducting social campaigns such as equalising rights,
increasing binding consultation and expanding citizen protection. Social reforms have the calibre
to influence government to change the falsely implemented laws on the people. Democracy, in
this context cannot be constituted without a spirited social movement and a mobilised civil
society, including citizens of the country.
As per the view of Pearse, (2016), various issues has been resolved with the help of social
movements. For example: the campaign against the underage smoking and teenage pregnancy
helped in evacuating so many health related problems in the adolescent. Thus, they are good
from medical point of view too. The statistics has revealed that after the reform the data changed
drastically. However, Scalmer (2017) stated that the importance of social movement depends on
the type of democracy in which the reform takes place. If the people will not involve themselves
in the movement then it may totally fail. Besides this, sometime the different perspectives of the
citizens may cause conflicts in them and a total loss for democracy. Besides this, there are still
some factors that cannot be controlled by the social movement. For example: campaign against

underage smoking can assist in reducing the numbers of adolescent smokers but it cannot
completely resolve the problems. Such as the family, peer, education and other pressure under
which the teenagers do smoke. Likewise, teenage pregnancy can be depressed with the social
practices but its complete removal is somewhere not possible to occur.
According to Morales and Giugni (2016), social movements and democracy are
interrelated with each other.They makes great influence in promoting democracy and makes
social relations with the people. The social movements like rallies, surveys etc. are open because
they help in promoting the interest of political parties very easily to people. It also influences the
decisions and mentality of the public. The relationship between democracy and social
movements helps in enlarging democratisation. It also enhances the their bondingbetween
political actor and the people.
As per the view of McAdam (2017), social movements are specifically conducted to
appeal the public for some important message like parties growth, their support or some common
message for the benefits of the people. It will help them to achieve their social and political
targets so that they can bring changes in the country. This will increase awareness and
confidence to move towards the aims of the political leadersThis include various functions which
directly affects the mentality of the people which encourages them to support the policies and
rational of the government.
Halvorsen (2017), suggested that social movements not only increase awareness but also
helps public to know the benefits and bad points of the new policies of the government. People
protests and oppose the new ideas and plans of thepolitical leaders it they do not find it suitable
or beneficial. They do not accept their rules and regulations if the plans are not supportive. The
social movements will directly affect the people culture and their lives. On the other hand
Fominaya, (2016), argued that social movements creates disturbance in the normal life of the
people and affect the people normal life. The protest and opposition snatches the life of innocent
people which have no connection with the matter.
According to Wolin (2016), democracy may come only when the people and government
will support each other and increase their understanding level. This cooperation will help the
political leaders to know the problematic areas of the people and make policies according to it.
Further, this will increase the contribution of each other and able to make effective policies in the

country. Additionally, it will help in making the plans more flexible and reliable. Esping-
Andersen, (2017), proposed that social movements have the ability to coordinate civil society
and political institutions. The conflicts and disputes suggests political leaders to make alliances
between them and effective policies in which both will set on the middle paths. This will help
them to bring democracy in their country.
On the other hand, Porta (2017) stated that the institution or groups which protest by
creating violence and other methods will directly affects the peace and security of their own
country people and damages the valuable resources and values of the common people. This
increases conflicts and terrorism in the country and destroys all the democracy policies and rules
and regulations. Further, this will disturb whole environment of the country and affects the
relationships with foreign countries.
CONCLUSION
It has been concluded that, social movements have given chance to women to increase
their potential and voice against the wrong in the country. They can put their issues in front of
people to protect their lives and make policies in favour of them. It has opened the paths for the
minority and disabled people to raise their voice by conducting social movements. It has also be
seen that these activities helps the people to stop injustice with them and increase
democratisation in the country. Further, this proved to be helpful when they are raised for the
issues like health, food and education because it strengthens the condition of the country.
Additionally, it is found that the people which conducts the social movements are appraised by
the public and government if they demands for right issues and rights. This will strengthen the
relationships among the political institution and common people of the county. It will help the
political leaders to maintain peace and prosperity in the country.
It can be concluded that social movements plays an important role in maintaining the
peace in the society. These eates violence, disturbance and terrorism in the country. It has also
been seen that social movements directly impacts the wellbeing and welfare of the people.
Effective democracy policies will help in maintaining the peace and humanity among thelocal
people of the country. It can be concluded that coordination and support of the people is very
necessary to implement new changes in the country because their support will help to maintain

peace in the society. Further, the relationship between social movements and democracy is
proved to be helpful in awaring the people and their well being.
It is also seen that the people which oppose the plans and rules of government are
increases the problems for others . They have to face negative effects of their protests and
violence. This will also affect the soft functioning of the society. It has also been found that the
people which favours the plans of the government are more beneficial as compared to those
which oppose them. Relationship between social movements and democracy is proved to be
helpful for issuing the basic rights of the people. It also increases the trust and confidence of the
public towards the democratisation and political leaders.

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Davies, T., Ryan, H. E. and Peña, A. M., (2016). Protest, social movements and global
democracy since 2011: new perspectives. In Protest, Social Movements and Global
Democracy Since 2011: New Perspectives (pp. 1-29). Emerald Group Publishing
Limited.
Ercan, S. A., Hendriks, C. M., & Boswell, J. (2017). Studying public deliberation after the
systemic turn: the crucial role for interpretive research. Policy & Politics. 45(2). 195-212.
Esping-Andersen, G., (2017). Politics against markets: The social democratic road to power.
Princeton University Press.
Fominaya, C. F., (2016). Unintended consequences: the negative impact of e-mail use on
participation and collective identity in two ‘horizontal’social movement groups.
European Political Science Review.8(1). pp.95-122.
Grosser, K. (2016). Corporate social responsibility and multi-stakeholder governance: Pluralism,
feminist perspectives and women’s NGOs. Journal of Business Ethics. 137(1). 65-81.
Halvorsen, T., (2017). Breaking the bond between knowledge and democracy?. Constituting
Higher Education. p.81.;
McAdam, D. (2017). Social Movement Theory and the Prospects for Climate Change Activism
in the United States. Annual Review of Political Science. 20. pp.189-208.
Morales, L. and Giugni, M. eds., (2016). Social capital, political participation and migration in
Europe: making multicultural democracy work?. Springer.
Pearse, R. (2016). Moving targets: Carbon pricing, energy markets, and social movements in
Australia. Environmental Politics. 25(6). 1079-1101.
Polletta, F. (2016). SOCIAL MOVEMENTS IN AN AGE OF PARTICIPATION. Mobilization:
An International Quarterly. 21(4). 485-497.
Scalmer, S. (2017). The History of Social Movements in Australia. In The History of Social
Movements in Global Perspective (pp. 325-352). Palgrave Macmillan UK.
Wolin, S. (2016). THE SOCIAL, THE POLITICAL, AND DEMOCRACY. Politics and the
Concept of the Political: The Political Imagination. p.151.
Online
Porta, D., P. (2017). Democracy in social movements. [PDF]. Available through:
<https://www.hse.ru/data/2012/11/03/1249193731/Donatella_Della_Porta_Democracy_in_
Social_Mov.pdf>. [Accessed on 9th September 2017].
Hamilton., C. (2017). Which protest movement has been most successful?. [Online]. Available
through <https://theconversation.com/which-protest-movement-has-been-most-successful-
68981>. [Accessed on 9th September 2017].