Part B (Q8): Discuss the Principles and various tactics used in social action for social change.

Social Action is a method used when structural change is required and those in power refuse to negotiate.

Principles of Social Action

1. Principle of Credibility: The leaders and the organization must be trusted by the masses. They must have a track record of integrity.
2. Principle of Legitimization: The movement must justify its cause to the broader public (e.g., grounding its demands in constitutional rights or human rights) to gain moral support.
3. Principle of Dramatization: The movement must capture public attention. This involves using slogans, symbols, songs, and dramatic forms of protest to make the issue impossible to ignore.
4. Principle of Multiple Strategies: A movement cannot rely on one tactic alone. It must continuously shift strategies (from legal petitions to street protests) to keep the opposition off-balance.
5. Principle of Non-Violence (Satyagraha): Strongly advocated by Gandhi and MLK Jr. Violence often alienates public sympathy and gives authorities the excuse to crush the movement brutally. Non-violence maintains the moral high ground.

Tactics Used in Social Action

Tactics are the specific actions used to exert pressure. They range from mild to severe:

1. Collaborative Tactics: Used when the target is willing to talk. Includes submitting petitions, lobbying legislators, and formal negotiations.
2. Campaign Tactics: Used to persuade or shame a reluctant target. Includes mass education, media campaigns, and public rallies.
3. Contest/Confrontational Tactics: Used when the target is hostile.
   • Boycotts: Refusing to buy goods or use services (e.g., the Montgomery Bus Boycott).
   • Strikes: Withdrawing labor (e.g., a factory strike).
   • Civil Disobedience: Deliberately breaking an unjust law and accepting the legal consequences to highlight its injustice (e.g., Gandhi's Salt March).
   • Picketing: Blocking access to an institution or shaming those who cross the line.