A society can be considered democratic if it provides for political freedoms, including the state guaranteed right to participate in political associations. Citizens can defend their rights and take part in the struggle for power by uniting themselves in political movements or parties.
What is a political movement
Society is not a homogeneous mass of people. In it there are various social groups that differ in place in public life and in their fundamental interests. The interaction of groups of people with the current government often leads to a clash of opposing interests. One of the goals of public activity of the masses is to protect their rights and freedoms, to express their views and influence public policy. These trends are driven by political movements.
A political movement is a voluntary formation of citizens, which is massive and is created at the initiative of the people who make up its foundation. The movement serves to bring together people with a common goal. This may be a struggle for peace or ecology, opposition to the arms race, protection of one’s national interests or preservation of cultural identity.
Today in many democratic countries of the world there are more than one hundred movements, some of which advocate for the protection of human rights or the preservation of the environment. Typically, political movements are diverse in their social composition and are built on spontaneous self-government. Membership in the political movement, as a rule, is not provided. The management is carried out by an elected body formed on a collegial basis.
The activity of political movements consists in organizing a wide variety of actions. It can be rallies, marches, pickets, collection of signatures in support of an initiative. The political character of such a movement is attached to the desire to influence the decisions of the authorities.
