Activism and Social Movement Dynamics

Activism encompasses a spectrum of organised and spontaneous efforts by individuals and groups to promote, impede or direct social, political and environmental change. Social movement dynamics refer to the processes through which collective action emerges, evolves and sustains itself over time and across contexts. Central to these dynamics are resource mobilisation, framing strategies and the interaction between activists and institutional authorities. In recent years, the proliferation of digital platforms has transformed mobilisation patterns, enabling rapid diffusion of protest imagery and narrative frames but also generating new challenges in sustaining long-term engagement. At the same time, everyday or implicit forms of activism – such as small acts of solidarity, quiet interventions and coproduction practices – have gained recognition for their capacity to nurture relational bonds and reshape power relations in mundane settings. The study of activism now pays closer attention to the intersectional dimensions of identity, the emotional labour of participation and the tactical repertoires activists deploy under varying political regimes. Globally, scholars and practitioners alike seek to understand how diverse modes of activism can yield enduring social transformations, from gender justice and environmental stewardship to digital advocacy and community-driven governance.

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Activism and Social Movement Dynamics publication trend

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

Technical terms

Activism: The practice of organising or taking part in actions aimed at driving social, political or environmental change.

Social movement dynamics: The processes through which collective actions emerge, coalesce, evolve and impact institutions over time.

Direct action: Public, often confrontational acts designed to exert pressure or disrupt systems without mediation by formal institutions.

Slacktivism: Low-effort, typically online expressions of support that may substitute for more sustained forms of engagement.

Implicit activism: Quiet, everyday practices and small acts that foster solidarity and care, contributing to political change without overt protest.

References

1. Surfacing solidarity praxis in transdisciplinary research for blue justice. Ecosystems and People (2023).
2. Doing ‘enough’ of the ‘right’ thing: the gendered dimension of the ‘ideal activist’ identity and its negative emotional consequences. Social Movement Studies (2018).
3. Small acts, kind words and “not too much fuss”: Implicit activisms. Emotion Space and Society (2009).
4. Reconceptualising coproduction as activism together. Children & Society (2023).