Social Movement Theory

Social Movement Theory: Theory that attempts to explain why social mobilization occurs, the conditions under which it occurs, and the consequences of its occurrence.
(Source: Morris, Mueller, C.M. (1992). Frontiers in Social Movement Theory. New Haven: Yale University Press.)

In community development, this applies whenever members of a community assess the needs and concerns of the community, such as the mistreatment and murders of its members, and organize rallies and marches to protest these issues. As of recently, demonstrators have mobilized in  attempt to protest the murders of African Americans like Sandra Bland, Freddie Gray, and Oscar Grant.

In other fields, such as social media, bloggers can craft think pieces, videos and announcements in order to garner more support and more participation for a good cause. One example of this is Arab Spring in Egypt in 2011. This was started by a group of young people in Egypt in an attempt to get President Mubarak to step down from office due to his administration's treatment of its citizens. The Arab Spring Revolution started on Facebook and drew thousands of supporters and protesters, and was the catalyst in Mubarak to eventually give up his position in office.