Q: Discuss how “environmentalism” can be explained with new social movements approach.

Model Answer:

Environmentalism Explained Through New Social Movements Approach

Environmentalism can be effectively explained through the lens of new social movements (NSMs), which emerged in the 1960s and 1970s as a distinct form of collective action. This approach provides valuable insights into the nature, goals, and tactics of environmental movements.

Key features of NSMs that apply to environmentalism include:

1. Focus on non-material goals: Environmental movements prioritize quality of life issues, ecological preservation, and sustainable development rather than purely economic concerns.

2. Identity-based mobilization: Environmentalists often form collective identities based on shared values and concerns for the planet, transcending traditional class-based divisions.

3. Decentralized and network-based organization: Many environmental groups operate through loose, horizontal networks rather than rigid hierarchical structures.

4. Use of unconventional tactics: Environmental activists frequently employ direct action, civil disobedience, and symbolic protests to raise awareness and influence policy.

5. Emphasis on cultural and lifestyle changes: Environmentalism promotes alternative lifestyles and consumption patterns, challenging dominant societal norms.

6. Critique of technocratic society: Environmental movements often resist the encroachment of state and market forces on nature and community life.

7. Global perspective with local action: Environmental movements often address global issues like climate change while encouraging local, community-based initiatives and solutions.

Theorists like Alberto Melucci and Alain Touraine have highlighted how NSMs like environmentalism construct new collective identities and challenge dominant cultural codes. For example, the concept of “ecological citizenship” has emerged as a new form of identity linking individual behavior to global environmental concerns.

The NSM approach helps explain environmentalism’s focus on personal responsibility, its emphasis on grassroots action, and its ability to mobilize diverse groups around shared ecological concerns. It also illuminates how environmental movements have shaped public discourse and policy on issues like climate change, biodiversity loss, and sustainable development.