Common features between Civil Society and Social movement

Social movements and civil society have structures like organizations a well identified leadership and ideology. Civil society initiatives and social movements are social processes which undergo several stages of progression from mobilization to intensive collective action. Social movements and civil societies pledge for change in the established order of society. However some of them also work to resist change in society. They both occupy civil space in society. The creation of new collective identity is an essential part of both social movements and civil society. They are based on identified ideological choices.

They are initiated by enterprising people for the maximization of specific interests. Here both processes can be taken over by the state. Social movements are broader categories or agencies. At times it even looks for radical change by attacking the existing structure of the society. Civil society looks for gradual change within the existing arrangement. Civil society at times asks political questions and political solutions through developmental activities.