Social movements

Lauren Langman

Chapter 42 in Research Handbook on Critical Theory, 2026, pp 491-508 from Edward Elgar Publishing

Abstract: Social movements take place when a number of social actors, responding to crises or contradictions in the society join together to initiate reforms or change the society or even create a new society. For critical theory, rooted in a Hegelian-Marxist tradition, historical change was based on the movement of Spirit (Hegel), Geist, the collective ethos of a people moving through history, impelled by the resolutions of contradictions, moving toward a telos of freedom and Absolute Knowledge. Marx however offered a material grounding to Spirit, beginning with political economy, in which crises and contradictions primarily economic, or rooted in the economy, might lead to changes if not transformations. To this analysis, the Frankfurt School added the role of character, especially when seeing the relation of individual authoritarianism and Nazism. But many social movements are progressive and in response to crises seek a more democratic, egalitarian society with freedom and dignity for all. But this vision was only typical among certain actors. For Fromm, the “productive character”, or for Marcuse the “new sensibility” was evident in the youth movements of the 60s, the “great refusals” that would spearhead the move to postcapitalism. Habermas (1975, Legitimation Crisis) then noted how crises of legitimacy migrated from the system to the life worlds of identity and emotions that might prompt mobilisations. Today we need to understand the assent of right wing movements and mobilisations of resistance seeking progressive change.

Keywords: Social Movements; New Sensibility; Crisis of Legitimation; Social Change; Protest (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
ISBN: 9781800373754
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