Activism
Activism refers to efforts on behalf of a cause that expands beyond what is expected (Martin 2007) and can vary based on the cause, culture, context, and other associated factors. Although the term lacks a rigid definition, it is most frequently used to refer to people expressing disapproval of the actions of a state (or other entity with significant social, political, or economic powers) and with the goal of improving a particular aspect or aspects of society (Gonzales 2008; Martin 2007). Activism also typically occurs within a social movement.
A social movement can be broadly defined as a mechanism by which a united group of people state their belief or cause, show their concern or disdain for certain situations, and fight for a solution to identified problems (Cammaerts 2015). A social movement can include three primary facets, including having an oppositional force; loose or informal connections to one another; and an identified collective working toward a common goal...
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Further Reading
Bennett, W. (2003). Communicating global activism. Information, Communication & Society, 6(2), 143–168.
Bennett, L. (2014). ‘If we stick together we can do anything’: Lady Gaga fandom, philanthropy and activism through social media. Celebrity Studies, 5(1–2), 138–152.
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Reitan, R. (2006). Global activism. London: Routledge.
Velasquez, A., & LaRose, R. (2014). Youth collective activism through social media: The role of collective efficacy. New Media & Society, 17(6), 899–918.
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Paulot, K., Irvine, R.S. (2021). Activists and Activism. In: Romaniuk, S., Marton, P. (eds) The Palgrave Encyclopedia of Global Security Studies. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-74336-3_159-1
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