Social change is a concept that many of us take for granted or don’t really understand. No society remains the same. Change is always happening. We accept change as inevitable, but that’s it, right? Well, not exactly.
Sociologists define social change as changes in human interactions and relationships that change cultural and social institutions. These changes occur over time and often have profound and long-term effects on society. Well-known examples of such changes have arisen from social movements around labor rights, civil rights, women’s rights, and LGBTQIA+ rights, to name just a few. As a result of these social change movements, human relationships have changed, institutions have changed, and cultural norms have changed. That’s quite a headache. Do not you think so?
What I’m interested in, and what I hope you’ll be interested in, is our collective power to affect social change.
What is the main purpose of social change?
We accept that change is constant, but we do not have to accept that we are powerless after change. The extent to which we care about the direction of social change allows us to shape social change and contribute to the realization of the changes we want to see in the world. It doesn’t matter whether Gandhi actually said these words. Importantly, this phrase begs the question: What kind of change do we want to see in the world?
It is quite possible that one person’s opinion of what is good, or positive social change, is another person’s opinion of what is bad, or negative social change. For example, people who believe in a woman’s right to choose whether to carry a fetus to term or not fight hard for that right and sincerely believe that it should be decided between the woman and her doctor; Those who oppose abortion believe that: They also firmly believe in the righteousness of their cause and have built a movement that can claim victory in overturning the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Roe v. Wade.
Institutions have changed, cultural and political norms have changed, and personal relationships have changed as a result of the collective power of people determined to bring about positive change in society. Although not everyone agrees, there is no denying that it is an activist movement driven by citizens working together to make change.
As the executive director of Global Citizens Circle (GCC), a 50-year-old nonprofit organization, I work to further the organization’s mission by thinking about the difference I want to make in the world every day. is. Promote positive change in our communities, nation and world.
I am sure that our partner and host institution, Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU), is also thinking about this issue every day as we aim to “change the lives of our students.” And no doubt our Belfast-based partner, the Social Change Initiative (SCI), is also doing this as we strive to “increase the effectiveness of our work towards progressive social change”. thinking about.
All three of our institutions value and understand that society can change for the better. We may exercise our power to affect change in a variety of ways. The GCC does that through discussion among people with different opinions and backgrounds. SNHU does that by offering affordable and innovative education and social sciences degree programs online, similar campus majors, and now serves refugees in Kenya, Lebanon, Malawi, Rwanda, and South Africa. Also available at camp. SCI exerts its influence by bringing together social activists and philanthropists around the world.
These are certainly lofty goals, and envisioning a better world requires our unrelenting attention and unrestrained imagination. You may think that’s great, but why should you care about it, why should you take time out of your very busy schedule to take action, and more importantly, why should you care? , you may wonder how you can create positive change in society.
My point is, it’s not that difficult if you start at the most basic level: building relationships.
Change begins with how and when we interact with others.
When we respectfully listen to the opinions of others whose opinions and life experiences differ from our own, we take the first step toward listening. We accept that there are countless perspectives and viewpoints on most issues of concern.
If we truly want to be part of real change, we can’t just accept it. We have to have conversations that require push and pull, give and take. And if we are willing to do so, we can find those points of agreement and unite around them. We do not have to compromise on these points that define our values, but we do need to find ways to work together towards positive change that reflects our shared values. It is the art of principled compromise that has the power to create more lasting change.
Some may argue that that has always been true, but we live in turbulent times. The growing polarization of people around the world who hear “truth” from disparate media sources is new and makes the art of principled compromise more difficult. Levels of incivility in political dialogue are rising around the world, and it seems as if we have collectively forgotten our common humanity.
While we can certainly claim that technology is to blame, and it is, positive social change movements have also been facilitated by using technology to bring people together for the betterment of society. Ta. A non-political example of this is the Ice Bucket Challenge, which brings together millions of people to learn about treatments and support research for the devastating disease ALS.
For 50 years, Global Citizens Circle has brought together diverse groups of people to have challenging discussions on issues ranging from conflict resolution and reconciliation to education reform and economic equality. We have seen Catholics and Protestants in Northern Ireland sit together and discuss their common hope for peace. We have hosted South African exiles who were once labeled “terrorists” in their own country and later became leaders of that country. In our discussion circles, we have had powerful businessmen sitting next to the homeless and disenfranchised, activists next to academics, and we have witnessed the changes that have taken place.
Throughout the pandemic, we have brought people together from around the world online to engage in dialogue about difficult issues such as racial justice in the wake of the killing of George Floyd, the harsh realities of police reform, and the vulnerability and resilience of youth during the COVID-19 pandemic. brought the same principles and values of respect and dignity to the. Conflict.
Have these programs promoted social change? They act in ways we don’t always see. But by intentionally nurturing the connections made during these programs, we plant the seeds.
Building relationships that foster positive social change
Although the conversation topics were often difficult, listening and learning from others was not difficult. This is how change begins. We must work intentionally to foster civil debate and unite people with different viewpoints.
Global Citizen Circle, Southern New Hampshire University, and the Social Change Initiative help bring people together, educate students in classrooms and online, and support activists on the front lines of advocating for social change. They use their influence and power to direct change. A more just and inclusive society.
But ultimately, it is relationships of trust and respect, not the programs each organization offers, that create lasting change. It takes time and a willingness to remain open to the possibility that we can learn something from those with whom we disagree.
Building such relationships, even when it seems impossible, is key to fostering constructive social change. So take the initiative, start now, and stick with it.
Theo Spanos Danfay is the director of Global Citizens Circle, a nonprofit organization that partners with SNHU with a shared mission to listen, learn, and take sustainable action to create positive social change. I’m the executive director. Dunfey is a graduate of Tufts University and Brown University’s Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy. She has extensive global experience, most recently overseeing the Office of Citizenship and Civic Engagement at the University of New England, where she taught citizenship courses and led several student groups on global citizenship service learning trips abroad. I also led the Previously, she led the Maine World Affairs Council and hosted numerous global editorial conferences for The WorldPaper.