A social movement is a collective action to change or influence the existing social system by a group. Herbert Blumer has defined the social movement as “Collective enterprises to establish a new order of life.

A social movement is defined as a collectively acting with some continuity to promote ore resist a change in the society or group of which it is a part. Some movements are directed to modify certain aspects of the existing social order whereas others may aim to change it completely.

A social movement is an organised effort of a large group of people to achieve a particular goal typically a social or political or political one, this may be to carry out resistance or undo a social change.

It is a collective challenge to the authorities organised group of people to come together to establish a new order of life.

Examples

• Environmental movements like the Chipko Movement and Narmada Bachao Andolan organised to protect and preserve our environment. 
• Workers movement to protest against the exploit action done on workers like the minimisation of wages, poor working conditions, etc. by the industrialisation factory owners. 
• Reform Movements – Arya Samaj, Satyashodhak Samaj, Peasant Movements, Backward Castes Movement, etc.