Categorizing Social Movements as Successful or Failed: Exploring the Essence Contributing to Social Dynamic Balance

Abstract

Research on social movements has been continuously robust and of significant theoretical importance in the field of social studies. This paper argues that there is no definitive criterion for categorizing social movements into a binary standard of either success or failure. Social movements emerge to instigate societal or ideological transformations. By analysing various historical movements worldwide, the study finds that when social movements reach extreme positions and unleash devastating forces upon society, they often provoke counter-movements that seek to restore social equilibrium. Societal trends oscillate back and forth, much like a pendulum, and social movements function as agents that pull the pendulum towards the centre when it reaches its peak on one side. Therefore, social movements act as regulators contributing to the constant dynamic balance in society. This nuanced perspective can inform policymakers, activists, and researchers in their efforts to engage with and respond to social movements, fostering more informed and effective strategies for societal change and progress.