List out the characteristics of Social Movements.

Characteristics of Social Movements:

1. Collective Action: Social movements involve collective action where individuals or groups come together to pursue a common goal or address a shared grievance.

2. Collective Identity: Participants in social movements often develop a shared sense of identity, uniting around common values, beliefs, or concerns that distinguish them from others.

3. Organized Structure: While some social movements may be loosely organized, many have a structured framework with leaders, organizers, and defined roles to coordinate activities.

4. Common Goals: Social movements typically articulate specific goals or objectives, whether they involve social, political, economic, or cultural change.

5. Public Awareness: Social movements aim to raise public awareness about specific issues or causes, utilizing various communication strategies such as protests, rallies, or media campaigns.

6. Resource Mobilization: Successful social movements require the mobilization of resources, including human, financial, and technological resources, to sustain their activities.

7. Opposition or Target: Social movements often challenge existing power structures, norms, or policies, identifying a specific target or opposition that they seek to influence or change.

8. Mobilization of Support: Social movements actively seek to mobilize support from a broader population, engaging individuals who share similar concerns or grievances.

9. Non-Institutional Strategies: While some social movements may engage with formal institutions, many rely on non-institutional strategies, such as civil disobedience, to challenge existing structures.

10. Dynamic and Evolving: Social movements are dynamic and can evolve over time in response to changing circumstances, public sentiment, or the attainment of specific goals.

11. Duration: Social movements can vary in duration, with some being short-lived and focused on specific events, while others may endure over extended periods, shaping long-term social change.

12. Globalization: In the contemporary context, social movements often transcend national borders, utilizing globalization to connect with like-minded groups globally and address issues at an international level.

Understanding these characteristics helps analyze the nature, impact, and potential success of social movements in advocating for social, political, or cultural transformation.