Activism consists of efforts to promote, impede, direct, or

intervene in social, political, economic, or environmental reform with the desire to

make changes in society toward a perceived greater good. Forms of activism range
from mandate building in the community (including writing letters to newspapers),
petitioning elected officials, running or contributing to a political campaign, preferential
patronage (or boycott) of businesses, and demonstrative forms of activism
like rallies, street marches, strikes, sit-ins, or hunger strikes.
Activism may be performed on a day-to-day basis in a wide variety of ways, including
through the creation of art (artivism), computer hacking (hacktivism), or simply in how
one chooses to spend their money (economic activism). For example, the refusal to buy
clothes or other merchandise from a company as a protest against the exploitation of
workers by that company could be considered an expression of activism. However, the
most highly visible and impactful activism often comes in the form of collective action, in
which numerous individuals coordinate an act of protest together in order to make a
bigger impact.[1] Collective action that is purposeful, organized, and sustained over a
period of time becomes known as a social movement.[2]
Historically, activists have used literature, including pamphlets, tracts, and books to
disseminate or propagate their messages and attempt to persuade their readers of
the justice of their cause. Research has now begun to explore how contemporary
activist groups use social media to facilitate civic engagement and collective action
combining politics with technology

TYPES
● Judicial and citizen activism
Judicial activism, an approach to the exercise of judicial review, or a description of a
particular judicial decision, in which a judge is generally considered more willing to
decide constitutional issues and to invalidate legislative or executive actions. Although
debates over the proper role of the judiciary date to the founding of the American
republic, the phrase judicial activism appears to have been coined by the American
historian Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr., in a 1947 article in Fortune. Although the term is
used quite frequently in describing a judicial decision or philosophy, its use can cause
confusion, because it can bear several meanings, and even if speakers agree on which
meaning is intended, they will frequently not agree on whether it correctly describes a
given decision.
● Environmental activism
 Environmental activism refers to the coming together of various groups of
individuals and organizations that work in collaboration in social, scientific,
political, and conservational fields with the main purpose of
addressing environmental concerns.
● Internet activism
Internet activism, also known as web activism, online activism, digital campaigning, digital
activism, online organizing, electronic advocacy, e-campaigning, and e-activism, is the use
of electronic communication technologies such as social media, e-mail,
and podcasts for various forms of activism to enable faster and more effective
communication by citizen movements, the delivery of particular information to large
and specific audiences as well as coordination. Internet technologies are used for
cause-related fundraising, community building, lobbying, and organizing. A digital
activism campaign is "an organized public effort, making collective claims on a target
authority, in which civic initiators or supporters use digital media."[1] Research has
started to address specifically how activist/advocacy groups in the U.S.
● Activism in literature
Literary activism is a form of protest and critique aimed at corporate publishing
houses and the literary fiction/nonfiction that they publish. The progenitors of literary
activism are the members of the Underground Literary Alliance
● Economic activism
Economic activism involves using economic power for change. Both conservative and
liberal groups use economic activism to boycott or outbid companies and
organizations that do not agree with their particular political, religious, or social
values.
● Visual Activism
Overview. Visual Activism, a symposium exploring the relationship
between visual culture and activist practices, was presented by the International
Association for Visual Culture
● Science activism
With Activism Mobilising Science (AMS) activists liaise with professional scientists.
The process contests unequal power relations through the co-production
of scientific and local knowledge. AMS activists want to gain visibility and
legitimacy to challenge the manufactured uncertainty produced by polluting
companies.

Emerging Media in Activism

Organizing social movements

Mobilizing on a global level.

Social media reach

Instant communication