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Social movements are groups organized to attain a common objective. The main goal of these movements is to bring transformation, resist change or be a political voice for marginalized individuals in society. These movements are structures that enlighten the oppressed individuals to resist being taken advantage of by the powerful and successful elites (Menocal, 2016). They emerge when people are unhappy about a political policy or a social change. Consequently, individuals start mobilizing groups to start campaigns, rallies, unrest, and demonstrations against the change. Through these actions, they create rapid formalization and success in gaining political power. There are four types of social movements namely; reformed, revolutionary, redemptive, and resistance social movements. Below is an in-depth analysis of the anti-nuclear movements.
The anti-nuclear movement is a social movement that opposes various nuclear technologies such as nuclear power and nuclear weapons. The antinuclear movement commenced in the late 1950s in the United States of America during World War II. The trigger for the emergence of these antinuclear movements was the invention of the atomic bomb in 1945 (Tarasova, 2017). They included both solidarity protests and organized groups of all sorts in defiance of the use of nuclear weapons in world war and the cold war. It involved individual protests that were carried out by residents. The antinuclear movement affected U.S. politics as they were resisting the use of nuclear weapons due to their effects. They also disputed the cold war militarism and confine their leaders from using nuclear weapons because their safety was undetermined.
The major anti-nuclear groups that emerged in the USA to oppose nuclear weapons and energy use included Campaigns for Nuclear Disarmament, Friends of the Earth, International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War, Peace Action, and Nuclear Information and Resource. These social movements’ goals entailed not only emphasis on peace and environmentalism but also intellectual social activism.
In America, it consists of more than 80 antinuclear groups were formed to oppose nuclear power and weapons usage, and uranium mining (n.a, 2016). Some of the major revolution social groups that emerged include Abalone Alliance, Committee for Nuclear Responsibility, Nevada Desert Experience, and Women Strike for Peace. These anti-nuclear movements pressurize the Nuclear Regulatory Commission with much success in slowing the construction of nuclear plants. Besides, it has committed to enforcing and reforming the safety regulations of such nuclear power stations.
The U.S. bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki (in Japan) in 1945 created a strong public antinuclear movement. Scientists emerged at the forefront to inhibit military control in atomic energy use as a military weapon. As a result, the foundation of Federation American Scientists (FAS) was founded. In 1961, less than 50,000 females were arraigned together by Women Strike for Peace. They demonstrated in the major cities of the USA against the usage of nuclear weapons. Consequently, another movement in 1979 emerged protesting against the Three Mile Island accident.
Similarly, in 1982 another antinuclear movement broke out. It involved about one million protesters in the USA’s capital city, New York. The main reason for the revolt was to stop the cold war arms race and the use of nuclear lethal weapons. However, this emerged as the largest social movement in the history of America. Barely a year after this protest, a nuclear disarmament movement sparked out in West Berlin with at least 600,000 demonstrators.
Another antinuclear uprising emerged in May 2005, these movements had approximately 40,000 Protestants. Later after a year, another antinuclear movement occurs which was made up of around 25,000 demonstrators that urged for the disarmament of nuclear weapons (Cooper, 2013). It is evident from the above series of antinuclear movement formations that social movements do reoccur.
Social movements have an impact on the social-political transformation of society. For instance, the antinuclear movements made the government reduce the usage of nuclear arms in the 1980s and blocked the establishment of power plants. Also, it committed the government to devise ways to manage radioactive wastes. The other effects were formulation and use of alternative sources of energy. Also, in the 1990s, the impact of the demonstrations led to the compensation of cancer victims as a result of the atomic bombing.
From the sociological perspective, several theorists have come up with models to explain the reasons for the formation and existence of social movements. For instance, functionalist, conflict, and interactionist theories can explain these phenomena. To begin with, functionalist theorists view society as a complex system whose parts are interrelated and work together as a whole (Eder, 2015). This theory focuses on why social groups are formed, the reason they reoccur, and the social puzzle they will solve. Concerning the antinuclear movement, it occurred several times, conflicting between the government and the society, and involved the continual renewal of their aims which agree with major features of functionalist theorists.
Conflict theory on the other hand as presented by Karl Marks asserts that social movements occur when powerful individuals oppress the less privileged in society thus advocating for a balance of power (Martin, 2015). Those in possession of power and resources do anything to protect themselves and resources while those less disadvantaged groups on the other hand will try to halt them or try to obtain those resources. In the anti-nuclear movement, the conflict theorist arouses due to the government possessing nuclear weapons and the establishment of nuclear plants the matter against which the citizens were.
Interactionist sees behavior as an interactive product of individual and situation (Eder, 2015). The perspective of this theory is that individuals shape and are shaped by society. It thus argues that the individual is an active and conscious piece of social context rather than a passive object in their environment. Social movements occur as a result of human interaction. For instance, antinuclear demonstrations occurred as a result of human interaction and mobilization.
In summary anti-nuclear movement is a social movement that brings people together to protest and oppose the use of nuclear weapons and nuclear energy. These movements are aimed to promote renewable energy that is friendly to the environment. They started after the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and they intensified during the cold war to date the protest has pulled a large number of people who have supported it (Wittner, 2010). These have led to a decline in nuclear plants globally.
In my opinion, social movements like the antinuclear movements have a great impact on society since they oppose or support actions that lead to better life and utilization of some sources which bring no harm to society. The antinuclear movement should be supported by the government and other agencies by allocating funds, and recognition days. The effects of nuclear weapons and nuclear energy power plant accidents are not only fatal but also painful to the economy and complications that are lifelong such as cancers, trauma to those exposed, and cause radiation to the environment that is hard to clean. Therefore, in my own opinion, antinuclear movements should continue and be supported.
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