Poverty reduction is a topic widely discussed in research and the media as one of the most vital issues for developing countries. It was placed as one of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). A large amount of research and reports have been presented about poverty reduction. At the same time, social movements have also been extensively studied, resulting in the emergence of many social movements related theories.
Despite the causal relation between social movements and poverty reduction, a limited number of studies have revealed the impacts of social movements on poverty reduction since both fields are placed under different analytical categories.
Social movements impact on poverty reduction is a must to study phenomenon, especially that we are witnessing the widespread of movements that tackle issues related to inequality and poverty directly and indirectly.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. What are social movements?
2.1 New social movements theory
2.1 Globalization and women’s movements
3. Defining poverty
4. The contribution of social movements to poverty reduction
5. Case studies
5.1 Case study from Peru: Extractive industry movement
5.2 Case study from India: Women’s empowerment movement
6. Conclusion
Research Objectives and Core Themes
This paper investigates the multifaceted relationship between social movements and poverty reduction. It aims to clarify how collective action, often operating indirectly by challenging power structures and advocating for policy change, contributes to the eradication of poverty and the addressing of social exclusion.
- Theoretical frameworks of social movements, including New Social Movements (NSM) theory.
- Multidimensional definitions of poverty extending beyond simple income metrics.
- Mechanisms through which social movements challenge political and economic exclusion.
- Comparative case study analysis: extractive industry resistance in Peru and women's empowerment in India.
- The role of transnational activism in enhancing local movement efficacy.
Excerpt from the Book
5.1 Case study from Peru: Extractive Industry Movements
Social movement activities in Peru started several decades ago. They contributed to tackling several issues such as the lack of peasant access to land and unfair relations between workers and employers. Social movements in Peru are characterized by being dynamic and by being connected with the development of the political economy. There are ten active movements addressing different issues in Peru, such as the extractive industry, agrarian issues, environmental issues and indigenous peoples. There is no clear limit to the relations between these movements as it could be noticed that any one of these ten movements participates in tackling other movements’ issues (Bebbington et al, 2010).
In 1990, Peru witnessed a devastating economic situation as inflation rate reached 7500%. Fujimori was elected as a new president of Peru in 1990 and started his reform policies based on neoliberal approaches. He encouraged foreign direct investment (FDI) through removing any obstacles to the growth of FDI (Bury, 2005). The government of Peru has privileged extractive industry over any other economic activities such as the agrarian economy and this has resulted in negative effects on peasants (Bebbington et al, 2010).
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Outlines the research topic regarding the relationship between social movements and poverty reduction, noting a gap in existing literature.
2. What are social movements?: Defines social movements as collective actions aimed at structural change, while detailing New Social Movements theory and the impact of globalization on women's activism.
3. Defining poverty: Explores poverty as a multidimensional concept including lack of freedoms and access to services, rather than just low income.
4. The contribution of social movements to poverty reduction: Analyzes how social movements influence poverty reduction indirectly by altering power relations, state policies, and cultural perceptions.
5. Case studies: Examines specific examples of social movements in Peru and India to demonstrate practical applications of collective action against poverty-inducing processes.
6. Conclusion: Summarizes the findings and emphasizes the necessity of studying poverty and social movements as interconnected phenomena.
Keywords
Social movements, Poverty reduction, New Social Movements theory, Globalization, Women’s empowerment, Extractive industry, Political economy, Collective action, Social exclusion, Multidimensional poverty, Transnational activism, Peru, India, SEWA, Neoliberalism
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research paper?
The paper examines how various social movements contribute to the reduction of poverty, specifically exploring the link between collective action and development processes.
What are the primary thematic areas covered?
The main themes include New Social Movements theory, the multidimensional nature of poverty, the role of power relations, and the impact of transnational activism on local change.
What is the central research question?
The research asks how social movements, which do not always address poverty directly, facilitate poverty reduction through their influence on policy, rights, and structural change.
Which scientific methods were employed?
The paper utilizes a literature review of existing sociological and development theories, complemented by a qualitative comparative case study analysis.
What topics are addressed in the main body?
The body covers theoretical foundations, the definition of poverty beyond income, the four-fold contribution of movements to poverty reduction, and case studies from Peru and India.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
Key terms include social movements, poverty reduction, NSM theory, empowerment, globalization, and social justice.
How does the Peru case study illustrate the paper's argument?
The Peru case shows how movements against extractive industries challenged government policy and demanded better resource distribution for affected communities.
What makes the SEWA movement in India a significant example?
SEWA serves as an example of a successful, transnationally organized movement that focuses on economic empowerment for poor women to overcome poverty barriers.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Abdelfatah Ibrahim (Autor:in), 2011, How do social movements contribute to poverty reduction, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/195111
