new social movement theory

sociology

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July 1, 2026

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New social movement theory emerged in the 1970s as a critique of Marxist perspectives that viewed social movements solely as class struggles rooted in economic production. This theory posits that contemporary movements, such as feminist, environmental, and civil rights movements, are responses to the social inequalities and the pervasive influence of mass media characteristic of postindustrial capitalism and welfare states.1

Sociologists like Jürgen Habermas interpreted these new movements as protests against the overreach of state bureaucracies into individuals' private lives. Unlike earlier theories focusing on social disorganization or strain, new social movement theory highlights struggles against social inequalities and the dominance of mass media, rather than purely economic conflicts. These movements are seen as arising when established norms no longer align with societal values or when societal structures fail to meet the needs of certain groups.12

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The second theory is the new social movement theory. It derives from an intellectual dissatisfaction with the predominantly Marxist view that treats social movements as reflecting a fundamental struggle among classes organized around economic production. That theory, it is argued, has become less relevant as these classes have been drawn…
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The second theory is the new social movement theory. It derives from an intellectual dissatisfaction with the predominantly Marxist view that treats social movements as reflecting a fundamental struggle among classes organized around economic production. That theory, it is argued, has become less relevant as these classes have been drawn…
Read More