27. What is the difference between new and old social movements?

Old movement functioned within the frame of political parties: The old social movements functioned within the frame of political parties. The Indian National Congress led the Indian National Movement. The Communist Party of China led the Chinese Revolution. Today some believe that ‘old’ class-based political action led by trade unions and workers' parties is on the decline. Others argued that in the affluent West with its welfare state, issues of class-based exploitation and inequality were no longer central concerns.

The ‘new’ social movements were not about changing the distribution of power in society but about quality-of-life issues such as having a clean environment.

Main or Central role of the political organisation in old movements: In the old social movements, the role of political parties was central, Politician scientist Rajni Kothari attributes the surge of social movements in India in the 1970s to people's growing dissatisfaction with parliamentary democracy. Kothari argues that the institutions of the state have been captured by elites. Due to this, electoral representation by political parties is no longer an effective way for the poor to get their voices heard.

Joining of people to known political organisation or groups to carry on social movement: People left out by the formal political system join social movements or non-party political formations in order to put pressure on the state from outside. Today, the broader term of civil society is used to refer to both old social movements represented by political parties and trade unions. And to new non-governmental organisations, women's groups, environmental groups and tribal activists.

New movements are international in scope: it is a hard fact that globalisation has been re-shaping peoples' lives in industry and agriculture, culture and media. Often firms are transnational. Often legal arrangements that are binding are international such as the regulations of the World Trade Organisation (WTO). Environmental and health risks, fears of nuclear warfare are global in nature. Not surprisingly therefore many of the new social movements are international in scope. What is significant, however, is that the old and new movements are working together in new alliances such as the World Social Forum that has been raising awareness about the hazards of globalisation.