Social Change

Social change denotes the transformation of values, norms, institutions and power relations within societies. It unfolds through shifts in cultural practices, collective behaviours and policy frameworks, often driven by the interplay of structural factors (economic conditions, technological innovations, demographic trends) and agency (individual and group mobilisation). Central to this process are the dynamics of identity formation, grievance articulation and normative contestation, whereby shared beliefs and emotions bind participants and inform strategic choices. Digital media have accelerated the diffusion of ideas and enabled new forms of solidarity, while globalisation and urbanisation have reconfigured local power structures and opened novel sites for activism. Research on social change spans multiple disciplines and underscores its implications for equity, resilience, conflict resolution and sustainable development. Understanding these processes is vital for designing policies that harness constructive mobilisation, mitigate polarisation and foster inclusive social transformation.

Research from Nature Portfolio

Recent studies have used digital discourse to reveal how online platforms shape social change dynamics. One analysis of Instagram during the COVID-19 pandemic uncovered how sustained discursive practices reinforced resilience and social support while highlighting risks of othering and online hate, suggesting that mediated social sharing can amplify both solidarity and division. Another diary-based study of social axioms and group identity during large-scale protests showed that generalized beliefs about the world interact with collective emotions and perceived efficacy to predict day-to-day participation, underscoring how deeply held worldviews shape mobilisation in sociopolitical events.

Social Change publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in social change across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Social change: The process by which societies undergo alterations in cultural values, social institutions, power structures and collective behaviours over time.

Collective action: Coordinated activities by individuals or groups, often driven by shared grievances or identities, aimed at influencing social or political outcomes.

Social identity: An individual’s self-concept derived from perceived membership in social groups, which shapes motivations, emotions and norms in collective settings.

Social axioms: Broad beliefs about the functioning of the social world—such as views on justice, fate or social cynicism—that influence how events are interpreted and acted upon.

Digital trace data: Information generated through online interactions—such as posts, likes and shares—that can be analysed to model and predict real-world behaviours.

Social validation: The process by which expressions of beliefs or grievances receive endorsement from others, thereby reinforcing normative alignment and motivating action.

References

1. How South Korean Internet users experienced the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic: discourse on Instagram. Humanities and Social Sciences Communications (2022).
2. Social axiom and group identity explain participation in a societal event in Hong Kong. Humanities and Social Sciences Communications (2022).
3. Dilemmas of resistance: How concerns for cultural aspects of identity shape and constrain resistance among minority groups. European Review of Social Psychology (2023).
4. Digital Traces of Offline Mobilization. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology (2023).
5. Qualified support for normative vs. non-normative protest: Less invested members of advantaged groups are most supportive when the protest fits the opportunity for status improvement. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology (2023).