Interest_Groups

Social Movements Passage

A social movement is different from an interest group mainly by its level of organization, although most social movements have some kind of organization structure; it is usually not as formalized as an interest group. This has various advantages and disadvantages. Lack of formal organization gives social movement’s greater flexibility than interest groups; however they often lack the resources of organized interests. At the same time interest groups might have closer ties to government but often lacks the numerical support that large social movements often have. Social movements are not necessarily good while interest groups are bad. Social movements can range from anything from the civil rights movement to the rise of fascism in Europe in the 1930s. Many social movements use the tactics of interest groups, like bus boycotts for example, but often social movements can use violence as well

What this passage means to me

A social movement is not highly organized in the way that interest groups are.  The lack of organization gives social movements more freedom than interest groups, but at the same time social movements lack resources. On the other hand interest groups have close relationships to government but do not have large numbers. Social movements are not necessarily good because they are the majority who lack direction and resources while interest groups are bad because they have resources but do not use the resources for enough good.

Why I chose this passage

I chose this passage because it explains the power struggle going on in society historically, and presently. This passage is a key piece to understanding the similarities, and differences in the components between interest groups, and social movements.