Social movements: determining the methodological foundations of the study

Abstract

The article examines the main types of social movements: expressive, utopian, reform, revolutionary movements; resistance movements; defines their main characteristics, the essence of the concept of "ideal types" within different paradigms of social movements. An attempt is made to identify the most effective theoretical and methodological foundations for analysing the "ideal types" of social movements, the expediency of using the latest political science concepts as a theoretical basis for the study of "ideal types" of social movements is considered. Attention is focused on the paradigm of "ideal types" of social movements, which has cognitive potential for the analysis of modern protest movements. The differences that exist between social movements and social institutions are shown, which consist of the difference between them in terms of periods of existence and institutional nature. The author reveals a close connection between social movements and the development of communications, which is a practical tool for the direct participation of citizens in solving their pressing social issues. The authors of the study draw attention to the fact that movements should not be confused with organizations, since social movements can include many organizations, have unstable cultural patterns, and acquire a stable form of behavior, their own norms and a system of ordered and clearly hierarchized social statuses. It follows that social movements can act as pressure groups only by chance and seek to achieve only those goals that are most useful to society, using generally accepted norms. It is especially emphasized that social movements can be defined as the essence of protest actions aimed at supporting social change, a collective attempt to pursue common interests or achieve a common goal through collective action outside the established institutions, and it is through them that we have all the necessary tools and means in our hands to respond to this kind of change promptly and make the transformation process less painful.