Figure 9.1. A Massai pastoralist herding goats

One characteristic of studying social change is that we often see extraordinary solutions arise from seemingly impossible social problems. This is especially true with the study of social movements. As we introduced in Chapter 2, social movements are the mobilization of large numbers of people to work together to achieve a social goal or address a social problem. They are persistent and organized efforts to either bring about what participants believe to be beneficial social change or in some cases resist or reverse change viewed as harmful (DeFronzo and Gill 2020).

Social movements become more interesting when we consider that often members of society disagree on the direction that social change should take. Or, if they agree on the direction that social change should take, they might disagree on the strategies to make that change. Also strategies can be complex, as they require changes to multiple social institutions.

9.1.1 People, Wildlife, and the Planet

Environmental changes are forcing us all to explore new ways of being, interacting, and supporting our existence. As a result we are seeing a myriad of social movements responding to that need. How well are we navigating the complexity of these responses? How well are we considering the whole of our global society as we choose initiatives for change in the face of our environmental crisis?

Tania Roa is a wildlife, environmental, and social justice advocate. She began her studies in wildlife conservation, but one day realized that to responsibly care for wildlife, she needed to better understand how humans, animals, and the health of our planet are connected. Watch her 10:05-minute Ted Talk to hear her story and her thoughts. As you watch, please consider:

• What are some intersecting issues related to our environmental crisis?
• What intersecting institutions does Tania mention?
• What concepts from previous chapters can you see reflected in her talk?

Figure 9.2. “How to Protect People and the Planet [Youtube Video]”

Tania presents the deep interconnections between climate and biodiversity crises solutions. She also introduces how those solutions can come at the expense of the exploitation of humans and animals.

9.1.2 Globalization, Population Growth, and Land Grabs in Tanzania

A key example Tania shares is that of the ongoing eviction of four Maasai village communities by the Tanzanian government, despite their having land ownership titles. The Ololosokwan, Oloirien, Kirtalo and Arash Massai live, farm, graze, and tend their animals adjacent to the Serengeti National Park (figures 9.1, 9.3, and 9.4). But, they have endured ongoing disputes with the government regarding the boundaries of their territory. The Tanzanian government is interested in leasing the disputed land to a company based in the United Arab Emirates, allowing them to create a wildlife corridor for trophy hunting and elite tourism (Sutherland 2022). This is an example of land grabs introduced in Chapter 3.

Figures 9.3 and 9.4. Massai youth; a Massai village.

The Tanzanian government is concerned that population growth of the Massai communities, along with the impacts of their growing herds, threatens wildlife in the park. Indeed, the number of Maasai living in the area adjacent to the park now numbers more than 100,000 compared to 8,000 in 1959. Their livestock population has grown alongside them, jumping from about 260,000 in 2017 to more than 1 million in 2022 (Jeannin 2022).

However, must the solution be the displacement of communities from their ancestral land? Must the solution involve a lease of property to a foreign company that will offer access only to elite foreigners? Many concerned with human rights and social justice think otherwise. This social dilemma, and these human rights concerns taking place in the Serengeti National Park is just one of many occurring around the world. They reflect challenging changes in our global society as our global population increases, globalization advances, and as biodiversity comes further under threat.

Figure 9.5. The Jaguar Friendly certification label

Figure 9.6. “Sight of a jaguar in Los Llanos, Colombia [Vimeo Video]”

As a remedy for these complexities Tania encourages that all voices in environmental-related strategizing are heard. She calls us to design and implement solutions that don’t prioritize corporations, but that protect and benefit both people and the planet. She shared news of a Jaguar friendly eco label program available in Colombia and Costa Rica (figure 9.5) that is helping address threats to jaguars due to loss of biodiversity and increased land use by farmers.

The jaguar friendly label is a certification given mainly to coffee growers whose farms are in jaguar corridors. (See the short clip of a jaguar in the Llanos region of Colombia in figure 9.6.) The certification identifies that the growers are practicing land management that provides habitat for the jaguar and its prey (Paz Cardona 2021). The farmers gain access to new national and international markets with the certification as their products are recognized as directly related to the conservation of biodiversity. They can earn more from the sale of their coffee as purchasers acknowledge their role in preserving the jaguar (WHAT IS the Jaguar Friendly Coffee Eco-Label?).

9.1.3 Chapter Focus

As a global community and within our local communities, we face multiple crises that sometimes appear to have no solutions. As you’ve read the chapters of this textbook, you may have been inspired by ideas for addressing social challenges. Or you may have imagined some solutions of your own. Nevertheless, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by the weight and complexity of the issues.

Sometimes the solutions are found within the issues themselves. For example, while globalization has amplified many of our global issues, it is also globalization that makes the jaguar seal program possible. Here, perhaps we can see that while globalization will continue its march forward, the role of responsible global citizens can be to engage consciously, acknowledging how our choices affect other societies. Then further, if you are someone like Tania you might be interested in understanding the complexities of our challenges, finding strategies for change, and in collaborating with others to move your visions forward. If there are many of you, you become a social movement.

In this chapter, we’ll first describe the ways that sociologists examine social movements. Then we’ll discuss the environmental crisis from a sociological perspective, and why it calls for social movements. Finally, we’ll explore specific movements that respond to some environmental challenges of our time.

We’ll look into the following questions:

• How do sociologists study social movements?
• How do sociologists study society and the environment?
• How can social movements reshape perspectives and improve lived experiences for members of societies?
• How can social movements correct injustice and support social and environmental resilience?