It is an evangelical attempt, generally, to right some wrong or to gain some sort of justice. Examples of social movements include the equal rights movement, the women's movement, and the green movement. While the public is, by far, not completely enraptured by these movements, they tend to engage the action of elites, specialized members of the population, and at least a moderate amount of the general public. They also receive a great deal of attention in academic circles, for the most part. Because the social movement engages the public, however, a component on which the civil society and democracy relies, can they increase or encourage democratization?
Arato and Cohen suggest this is true by discussing the traditional model of the society against the state, among other components. The idea that the society rebels against the state echoes the tradition or rebellion that has traditionally attempted to install democratic rule. Some examples...
Popular uprisings, however, have also traditionally installed types of government that can be descried as at least non-democratic. An important example is communism, which has traditionally called for a violent revolution. Today, many communist groups still believe in this tenant.
Thus, while social movements may encourage democratization, the installation of democracy and its maintenance or expansion, they can also encourage other types of rule. Popular liberal movements today encourage socialism and communism. Some do so in the terms of democracy. Others would prefer a true socialist or communist government. While the people and the wishes of the people are certainly important in the creation and expansion of democracy, social movements consisting of the people can also encourage results other than democratization.
