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Learning Lessons from the History of Social Change

History provides a blueprint to which you can refer as you design approaches to improve the future. Architects understand the importance of a blueprint to realizing a future vision. A blueprint, or plan, that is informed by both the successes and failures of the past strengthens your vision for social change. What mistakes can you learn from and avoid as it relates to past social change movements? It is important to identify the factors that have made other movements successful in order to organize your own social change efforts. To that end, in this discussion you identify and provide a rationale for the factors you feel contribute to the success of social change movements.

To prepare for this Discussion:

· Review the Goldberg, Ling, and Gladwell articles for insight into lessons learned in social movements of the past.

· Think about historical social movements that have had a direct impact on your life. Reflect on what laws or social norms have been challenged, upheld, or changed, allowing for an improved quality of life for you.

· Consider your perspective on the elements of historical social movements that have particular relevance today.

· Bear in mind the strategies used by historical social movements and how they have built momentum to today’s movements..

Post:

1. An explanation of the factors that contribute to the success of social movements.

2. In what ways can you pattern socially responsible action today after successful movements of the past?

3. What factors have changed over time and thus necessitate some differences in approach?

Support your assertions by making at least two references, in proper APA format, to your course readings.

References

· Loeb, P. R. (2010). Soul of a citizen: Living with conviction in challenging times (Rev. ed.). New York, NY: St. Martin’s Griffin.

o Chapter 2, “We Don’t Have to Be Saints” (pp. 42–63)

· Scalet, S. & Arthur, J. (Eds.) (n.d.). Morality and moral controversies: Readings in moral, social, and political philosophy (9th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson.

o Part II, “Life and Death” (pp. 123–336)

o Part III, “Personal Relationships” (pp. 337–398)

o Part IV, “Political, Social, and Economic Relationships” (pp. 399–450)

· Gladwell, M. (2010). Small change. The New Yorker, 86(30), 42–49.

· Goldberg, R. A. (2010). The challenge of change: Social movements as non-state actors. Utah Law Review, (1), 65–79.

· Ling, P. (1998). Martin Luther King’s half-forgotten dream. History Today, 48(4), 17–22.