Definition
Being an active member of a political party, pressure group, social institution, or associated political organization is called activism. The goal of activism or advocacy is to influence social, political, economic, or environmental transformation to transform society for what is seen to be the greater good.
Explanation
Political activity theories and studies indicate that political activists have greater social status, more social confidence, and are often more knowledgeable than most non-activists.
The degree of political involvement varies depending on the political environment. For instance, many individuals who are not typically politically engaged may get involved in politics during times of political crisis. Some theorists, particularly those in political science, have argued that under such situations, high levels of political involvement and uninformed participants in Western democracies might endanger the “stability of democracy.”
However, a more general trend in sociology is the propensity for members of lower-status minority groups to engage in politics, as seen, for example, in urban social movements.
The term activism has its roots in previous conceptions of social action and group behavior.
In the past, activists have spread their views and attempted to convince readers of the legitimacy of their cause by using literature, such as pamphlets, tracts, and novels.
The use of social media by modern activist organizations to promote civic involvement and group action that combines politics and technology is increasingly being researched. Internet activism using Twitter’s hashtags is referred to as hashtag activism. The most prevalent kind of advocacy on social media is this one.
Example
Student, nuclear, consumer, and feminist activism.