Political Science Essay: Social Movements and Democracy

This political science essay examines the multifaceted relationship between social movements and democratic practice. The essay begins by highlighting how social movements contribute to democracy by mobilizing resources, fostering participatory decision-making, and promoting civic engagem...Read More

Running head: POLITICAL SCIENCE
Political Science
In what sense do social movements enhance democratic practice and in what sense do they
stray from it
Name of Student
Name of the University
Author Note

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POLITICAL SCIENCE
Introduction
The social movement has been struggling for democracy and they have broadened the
scope for deliberative as well as participatory democracy. The progressive democracy has
contributed to various levels of internal decision-making, which in turn helps in the consensus
building1. This essay would identify the different social movements that improve democratic
practice or hamper the democratic practice.
Discussion
The social movements in various parts of the world have increasingly proved to be one of
the prime factors for mobilizing the resources of the nation and implementation of the various
measures within a neoliberal economic approach2. The social movements are an excellent
platform in which the people are in a position to know each other as well as the public activities
that are taking place in the society. This kind of society can be successful as a self-governance in
the matters of political campaigns, representation and the various elections. A well connected
network of country’s citizens is instrumental in making a robust democratic government. Such
social networks are capable of introducing social capital in the systems, which are responsible
for responsive representatives, better civic amenities, healthy populations, effective governance
1 Choi-Fitzpatrick A, 'Managing Democracy In Social Movement Organizations' (2014) 14
Social Movement Studies
2 Hayes G, 'Social Movement Studies,Social Movement Studies, And The Challenges Of
Parochialism: A Rejoinder To Poulson, Caswell And Gray' (2014) 13 Social Movement Studies

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POLITICAL SCIENCE
and more engaged citizens3. The social movements bring in the community mobilization, which
also connects the isolated communities as well. The overlapping consensus of the people with
different moral as well as religious outlook would lead them to the common institutions of the
liberal and just society.
The social movements enforce overlapping consensus which is based on the values as
well as interests that successfully avoid the various religious-political scenario4. The social
movements are synonymous with the sustainable as well as collective approach, which is
eventually better for the entire society. This kind of mass movements create popular participation
since they have created more widespread network of people.
There have been witnesses in history that shows that the social movements are capable of
performing a greater role in the public framework of decision-making. This has happened
through the processes of mechanism and culture of the interaction of the people. This kind of
engagement of the community makes the democratic government more efficient since there is
more number of entities involved in the decision-making process of the government. This kind of
movements is helpful in sharpening the actual consciousness of the citizens, so that they can
participate in the democratic processes in a better way. Social movements, can thus, help in
pressing the governments for reorganizing their decision-making process and reorganization of
the community institutions for the better.
3 Johnson V, 'Disintegrating Democracy At Work: Labor Unions And The Future Of Good Jobs
In The Service Economy' (2015) 15 Social Movement Studies
4 Refle J, 'What Is A Social Movement?' (2015) 15 Social Movement Studies

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POLITICAL SCIENCE
The social movements are also capable of straying from democracy and affect the
process ultimately5. There are incidences in history that show that the social movements have led
to problems, that has ultimately affected the democracy process. There have been revolutionary
as well as rebellion movements in which the social transformation is being challenged. In such
social movements, people are mobilized so that they can resist changes which arise from the
oppressed sections residing in the society. There are incidences of mob violence that has
devastated fairly strong democratic systems.
There have been social movements in which there is lack of clarity of the ideology and its
purpose of implementation. This may lead to counter-production and can be violent also, if they
are not channelized properly. These kind of social movements are responsible for growing failure
as well as lack of interest in resolving the social demands of today. The social movements are
also known to create crippling differences, detachment and disenchantment among the local
communities. The social unrest as well as mobilizations helped in deterioration of the
institutional, political and legal situations of the country. These kinds of mobilizations often lead
to a destabilized economy, which often weakens the power of the nation. There are often issues
with the participation channels which bind together various states, local and federal governments
of the country. This often leads to an improper democratic system.
5 Weisskircher M, 'The Consequences Of Social Movements' (2016) 16 Social Movement
Studies

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POLITICAL SCIENCE
Conclusion
The social transformations are important for determinants of the national success. The
social transformation can act as a constructive factor for the democracy of a country and also
have the potential for destruction of the social capital of the nation. This essay discussed some of
the major impacts of social movements on the democracy of a nation.

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POLITICAL SCIENCE
References
Choi-Fitzpatrick A, 'Managing Democracy In Social Movement Organizations' (2014) 14 Social
Movement Studies
Hayes G, 'Social Movement Studies,Social Movement Studies, And The Challenges Of
Parochialism: A Rejoinder To Poulson, Caswell And Gray' (2014) 13 Social Movement Studies
Johnson V, 'Disintegrating Democracy At Work: Labor Unions And The Future Of Good Jobs In
The Service Economy' (2015) 15 Social Movement Studies
Refle J, 'What Is A Social Movement?' (2015) 15 Social Movement Studies
Weisskircher M, 'The Consequences Of Social Movements' (2016) 16 Social Movement Studies