How Do Activists Create Change?
What is activism?
Definition
Activism
Activism is the action of individuals or groups working to create social, political, economic, or environmental change. It involves raising awareness, challenging injustice, and pressuring governments or institutions through methods such as protests, campaigns, and public advocacy.
- Activism is when people take action, individually or collectively, to challenge injustice and push for social, political, or environmental change.
- Activists don’t just highlight problems; they use strategies to pressure leaders, shape public opinion, and shift policies.
Analogy
- If society is a huge machine and something is broken, activists are the people who pull the emergency lever and say, “We need to fix this now.”
1. Public Demonstrations & Marches
- Demonstrations gather large groups in public places to show widespread support and attract media attention.
- People use signs, chants, speeches, and symbolic actions to communicate demands clearly and visibly.
Example
- Women’s March (2017): Millions marched globally for gender equality. The sheer size signalled strong public support and helped revive global feminist activism.
- Why it works:
- Shows leaders the movement is too big to ignore.
- Creates powerful images that shape public opinion.
Common Mistake
- Assuming protests instantly change laws.
- They pressure decision-makers but usually need follow-up actions.
2. Civil Disobedience
- Deliberate, nonviolent violation of laws considered unjust.
- Aims to expose unfair systems and provoke moral reflection.
Example
- Sit-ins during the US Civil Rights Movement: Students peacefully occupied segregated lunch counters to reveal the injustice of segregation.
Analogy
- It’s like politely refusing to follow a rule that everyone knows is unfair, forcing a conversation.
3. Boycotts & Economic Pressure
- Activists refuse to buy products or support businesses connected to injustice.
- By targeting profits, they pressure companies or governments to change.
Example
- Montgomery Bus Boycott (1955–56)
- African Americans stopped using public buses for over a year.
- Loss of revenue pressured the city to desegregate buses.
4. Digital Activism
- Using social media, hashtags, online petitions, and digital campaigns to raise awareness or organise protests.
Example
- #MeToo movement: Social media enabled millions to share their stories, making sexual harassment a global conversation.
Note
- Digital activism spreads information fast, but it must connect to real-world action to create long-term change.
5. Legal Challenges
- Activists use courts to challenge unjust laws, policies, or practices.
Example
- Brown v. Board of Education (1954)
- Civil rights lawyers argued that segregated schools violated equal protection.
- The Supreme Court’s ruling struck down school segregation.
Exam technique
- Pair legal action with a specific court case to show strong factual knowledge.
6. Strikes & Labour Action
- Workers stop working to demand better conditions or protest injustice.
- Strikes disrupt systems and force employers or governments to negotiate.
Example
- Climate strikes: Students worldwide walked out of school to demand climate action, showing that young people could influence global debates.
7. Art, Music & Symbolism
- Art communicates emotion and meaning quickly.
- Songs, posters, murals, and performances can make movements memorable and inspiring.
Example
- South African anti-apartheid songs helped unify protesters and keep morale high, even under harsh repression.
8. Coalition-Building
- Movements become stronger when groups join forces: youth groups, unions, religious organisations, environmental groups, etc.
- Coalitions broaden support and resources.
Example
- The anti-apartheid movement succeeded partly because activists united churches, student groups, trade unions, and international allies.
Note
- Diverse coalitions show leaders the issue cuts across society.
9. International Pressure
- Activists appeal to global institutions or foreign governments to isolate the oppressor economically, politically, or morally.
Example
- Anti-apartheid activists pushed for global sanctions, which contributed to South Africa ending the system.
Putting It All Together: How Activists Create Real Change
- Activists rarely rely on just one method. Successful movements combine strategies:
- Awareness → Demonstrations, digital activism
- Moral pressure → Civil disobedience, symbolic actions
- Economic pressure → Boycotts, strikes
- Legal pressure → Court cases
- Political pressure → Voting campaigns, petitions
- Global pressure → International solidarity
- The key: sustained effort + strategic choices = long-term change.
Case study
The Arab Spring (2010–2012)
- Background
- The Arab Spring was a wave of protests across the Middle East and North Africa demanding political freedom, jobs, and an end to corruption.
- What triggered it?
- Immediate cause: In Tunisia, street vendor Mohamed Bouazizi set himself on fire after years of police harassment.
- His story symbolised widespread frustration with injustice and lack of opportunity.
- Deeper causes across the region:
- High youth unemployment
- Corruption and police abuse
- Lack of democracy and free speech
- Rising cost of living
- How did activists protest?
- Mass protests in public squares (e.g., Tahrir Square in Cairo).
- Social media used to organise and spread information quickly.
- Strikes and marches to pressure governments.
- How did governments respond?
- Tunisia: Government collapsed; President Ben Ali fled.
- Egypt: Mubarak removed, but military later returned to power.
- Syria & Libya: Violent crackdowns → civil wars.
- Bahrain: Protests suppressed quickly.
- What did protesters demand?
- End to corruption
- Jobs and economic fairness
- Human rights
- Democratic reforms and free elections
- These demands spread because people across the region experienced similar problems.
- Outcomes
- Tunisia: Most successful: new constitution and elections.
- Egypt: Short democratic period → military control.
- Syria, Libya, Yemen: Civil wars and instability.
- Gulf states: Little political change.
- What this case teaches us:
- Protests can spread rapidly, but outcomes depend on government strength, military loyalty, and external involvement.
Self review
- Why do activists use different strategies instead of relying on just one?
- How does civil disobedience differ from traditional protests?
- In what ways can digital activism be powerful and what are its limitations?
- Why are boycotts and strikes effective forms of economic pressure?
- How does combining legal, economic, and moral strategies strengthen a movement?
