What is Collective Action: 13 Actions to Remember

When we think about changing our world through politics, education, social progress, and many more, we need people who want changes in our society or a Group of positive people. If we take a step today to shape our world into a proper place we will be able to achieve common goals. Hence, Understanding collective action will help us to lead a power of unity, from which we can solve many social issues.

For example, Public education, and healthcare, to Social and international movements. we can take Collective action to support social issues, public problems, environmental issues, and many more.

In this article, we will explore what collective action is, based on acts, natures, and importance with judging forms, factors, and challenges. 

1. First, We Understand, What is Collective Action:

Collective action is action when a group of people and individuals join together to fight against social issues like education, environment healthcare, and many more. Everyone wants freedom from justice, inequality, gender discrimination, and most important women’s violence.

Therefore Collective action comes into society so that everyone gets their rights and can be free from social issues.

Also, Collective action has many types, here are:

1.1 Protest Movements in Collective Action:

1.1.1 Tool for Social Change:

Protest movements include Indian farmer’s protests and civil protests. 

1.1.2 Indian Farmer: 

Throughout the years, farmers have been doing a lot of work on farming and fulfilling their needs. Collective action can change their conditions so that they can earn more and also get some benefits. 

In villages, there is no facility for the farmers, The Government should provide some needed services.

So that they also take advantage and more aware of these services.

1.1.2 Civil Protest:

When individuals and groups join together to raise voices over a commitment to nonviolence. It can take many forms including strikes, marches, and relies.

People make strikes for a particular issue so that the government accepts their demands.

1.2 Labor Unions : 

Similarly, the Unity of Workers is a labor union that stands for better working conditions.

1.2.1 Collective Action Bargaining:

It is an important action from which labor unions can get better salaries, benefits, and job security. Also, labor should get some benefits like owning a house, a food facility, and many more that they need.

1.2.2 Training and Development:

Many unions provide training and skill development programs to do better jobs. Also, offer them career and educational opportunities. 

1.3. Collective Society Groups :

It refers to many organizations and groups to achieve common objectives.

1.3.1 Diverse Objectives:

It focused on civil rights changes, improving the environment, and helping healthcare action.

1.3.2 Voluntary Membership:

Participation in a collective society group is voluntary, individuals can join these groups willingly. Similarly, membership is open to anyone who connects with the group’s Goal. 

1. 4 Community Organization:

Meanwhile, People from local areas can join together to solve local problems and make a community.

1.4.1 Needs Assessment:

People from local areas can conduct assessments including needs, concerns, and priorities. They can also join together and find solutions for their problems instead of fighting with each other.

Add some changes that are required in their areas.

1.4.2 Building Grassroots Movements:

It involves finding interesting community members who share common needs and issues.

They can help each other by solving problems.

1.4.3 Empowerment:

A central goal of a community Organization is to empower individuals and groups within the community.

1.5 International Agreements:

Likewise, the country has international agreements in collective action to talk over global missions like climate change.

1.5.1 Scope Agreements:

These agreements cover a wide range of issues.

For Example, trade agreements and environmental changes.

1.5.2 Legal Framework:

In these agreements, they add rights, obligations, and responsibilities to the involved parties. Our leaders should take care of the rights that everyone is getting or not.

Legal work is very important in any of the fields.

1.6  Identity Groups:

This identity increases group unity and loyalty to the cause. When people come together and their thoughts are met, Unity will be between them.

This unity makes a strong bond and they can achieve their goals. We need more unity to change our world.

1.7 Resource connecting : 

It includes financial support, knowledge, skill, time, and social capital, and support for the achievement of the goal.

1.8 Decision-Making:

A decision should be made within collective action, it allows them to put their thoughts into action.

1.9 Mutual in Collective Action :

Also, Individuals can keep each other accountable for commitment.

1.10 Friendship :

Similarly, we can support other participants which is called friendship. 

2. Foster Collective Action occurs:

Foster collective action happens when common people come forward to change social issues.

For example, factors driving and network.

2.1 Factors Driving :

We can drive factors by connecting groups.

2.1.1. Shared Interest : 

A clean environment is very important for our society and shared interest can be a tool for this.

2.1.2 Noticed Injustice :

Collective actions come up, to change inequality and join together to address the rights over violence.

2.1.3. Networks and Social Hub:

Strong ties with social networks and NGOs can improve support and coordination.

2.1.4. Leadership Group:

A good leader can motivate groups and connect with individuals to solve social issues.

2.1.5. Information and Communication:

Also, Advanced technology is a platform where people connect and spread information.

2.1.6. Political Change : 

If we vote for a good politician, he can stand for us and come up with new ideas to change our world.

3. Historical Importance:

Similarly, Historical importance taught us how they changed social and common rights.

3.1 Civil Rights Movement:

For example, The United States created a civil rights movement in the 20th century to reduce women’s violence.

3.1.1 Historical Context:

Accordingly, in 1950 and 1960, the movement emerged to change inequality and violence.

3.1.2 Goals:

Also, Primary goals were set in some areas like education, voting, and public demands.

3.2 Women’s Vote Movement:

3.2.1 Women Rights:

Women from many countries created a group to high the right to vote with the help of collective action.

In each country, women should get their rights and respect. Women are strong and they should get rights equally.

3.2.2 Historical Background:

Similarly, this is the movement raised in a period when women were not allowed voting rights. In our society, women are not respected, women are the most powerful.

We should take a stand for them and a law made that every woman can breathe and live a free life.

3.2.3 Goals:

The goals are set to achieve women’s vote so that every woman can able to have the right to election.

 3.2.4 Key Achievements:

Also, Women’s Vote Movements were achieved in different times.

3.2.5 U.S. Suffrage Movement:

Accordingly, In 1920, The United States has granted women the right to vote.

3.3 Freeing Movement :

Many un-free nations joined together in collective actions to achieve independence. Leaders and citizens combined to raise self-determination. 

4. Challenges and Barriers in Collective Action:

4.1 Free Rider Problem:

The free Rider problem is a concept where individuals can benefit from public goods or services.

4.1.1 Benefits without Paying:

Accordingly, Free Rider is a ”Ride Free” where you can enjoy the advantages of public goods and services.

4.1.2 Sensible Behaviour:

Sensible people can become free riders because they can get benefits without paying any cost.

4.2 Coordination Difficulties:

Coordinating a large group of people can be difficult when different thoughts are involved.

4.3 Discipline : 

Many governments may put down collective action, risky for individuals.

Discipline is made so that no one can harmed. Sometimes, it would be risky for people who are joined together.

For Protection, we should follow rules.

4.3.1 Respect  :

Accordingly, We should follow rules, guidelines, and values set by the collective action Group.

Rules are made so that everyone follows and gives respect to the government. The government made these guidelines for our safety.

4.3.2 Focused Goals:

Also, Everyone has to focus on goals to achieve Collective action.

Our world can change when everyone sets a goal.

4.4 Resources Motive: 

Organizing resources like finance or humans can be a challenging barrier to collective action efforts.

4.5 Continual: 

However, collective action in the long term can be a challenging effort, and differences of opinion may arise.

We should keep this change for a longer period so that we can live life in peace.

5. The Impact of Collective Action:

The impact of collection action is great on social movement.

5.1 Social Change:

Many serious social changes were made through collective action, such as civil rights, LGBT rights, and gendered violence.

5.2 Political Change :

5.2.1 Change in Leadership:

One of the most important parts of political change is the power of one leader to the next.

leadership should be changed because some leaders are taking benefits.

People

5.2.2 Social Change:

Also, We need a good leader to solve our social issues.

A leader who is responsible for all social changes can shape our world into a new form.

5.2.3 Carry ON:

Changes in the country’s nature can be a good way. we should carry on with this change.

5.3 Economic Impact:

Labor unions’ rights have been safe and added working conditions.

5.4 Environmental Management: 

5.4.1 Clean changes:

Global changes have taken and improved environmental challenges.

5.4.2 Pollution Control:

Modern technologies are designed to control and reduce water, air, soil, and many more poll.

5.4.3 Waste Issues:

However, We can use disposal and recycling to keep clean our world.

5.5 Global  : 

International agreements support collective action on global issues including climate change.

6. New Connection Society :

New Connection continuously improves social and political changes all over the world.

6.1 Climate Activism:

Climate issues have driven large collective action and raised attention to decrease their environmental problems.

We need to reduce our environmental issues. It can save our climate issues.

6.2 Online Activism Group :

A group of people connect through digital platforms to support social issues and make their voices heard globally.

Digital Platform is one of the most used by people. Everyone is active there so using this platform we can share our problems.

The world is getting more advanced day by day but we have to use this technology in a good way.

6.3 Social Justice Movement: 

Movements like #metoo have used the power of collective action to reduce inequality.

This movement was specially created for women. Women get abused by people and they don’t get justice for it.

We need more movements like this so that we can save our women.

6.4 Global Health : 

6.4.1 Healthcare:

COVID-19  in collective action, to improve healthcare issues government and scientists developed vaccines.

Our world has faced the most dangerous disease in which a lakhs or we can say a crore of people have lost their families.

The situation was out of control, but our governments have done a great job of saving everyone’s life.

6.5 Johns Hopkins University Press:

Johns Hopkins University Press has created an academic understanding of collective action. With its Social movements and social sciences 

7. Interests in Collective Action:

Conflicting interests happen when individuals or groups face ambitious motivations.

7.1 Public Goods and Services:

In the text of Public Goods e.g. clean air, national defense, and public Parks, individuals may have conflicting interests.

People have their own choices, Someone wants to go for the army, and someone for anything else.

Public goods should be provided by their interests.

7.2 Environmental Issues:

Climate change and other environmental issues may vary in collective action.

Why our world is not free from environmental issues.

Because everyone is doing their work, no one is thinking about the world.

If we make some changes we can save water, reduce noise pollution, and many more to save our world.

7.3 Nonprofit Organizations :

Changes in priorities and strategies may burden collective action to achieve a common cause.

7.4 Labor Unions:

Labor unions may have different interests and needs, and maintaining these interests can be tough for labor unions.

I think laborers should get all the benefits they want. Because they are doing hard work for their family and kids.

The government should make some laws for them so that they can live happily.

8. Rational Choice Theory in Collective Action :

Rational choice theory is used in social science and politics.

8.1 Individuality Utility Maximization:

Rational theory motivates an individual’s aim to maximize utility, resulting in their well-being and satisfaction.

8.2 Cost- Benefit :

Costs may include time and effort and benefits may include personal benefits and receiving public goods.

Nowadays people don’t have time for any social issues.

If they want to get personal benefits they should take out some time.

 8.3 Selective Participation:

Rational choice allows individuals to participate in collective action based on their interests and beliefs.

It is very important for participants that they should make their goals to join.

8.4 Applications:

It applied to many collective actions including voting behaviour and public goods provision.

Applications are nothing but a request for their needs if a person wants some right to vote. Then he can apply for it or if a person wants to enjoy public service he also can apply for that service.

For example, People get a ration from the government before they have to apply for a ration card.

8.5 Free Rider Problem :

Rational offers individuals may or not contribute if they believe they can get the benefits of collective action without participating.

9. Social Identity Model in Collective Action :

It is used to understand how social identity is convenient and encourages individuals to connect in collective action.

9.1 Social identity :

Social identity is based on individual identification such as race, nationality, and gender.

9.2 Grouping :

The social identity model starts with the idea of categorizing themselves into a social group.

They categorize people into different groups.

For example, who is interested in changing our world, and who is not going to support it?

9.3 Identification:

People identify with a group project their self-confidence increases that group’s success.

It shows the identity of a person who wants to join a group.

9.4 Social Comparison:

People compare their group with others, this may lead to confidence and enhance their status in their group.

People can add more skills so that they can win the race.

9.5 Collective Results:

The success and failure of collective action can give the individual’s social identity.

9.6 Social Support:

People can get more motivation when they have fellow support in collective action, it shows the social identity of a group.

It means if one person in a group is doing positive work then others can be motivated.

And he also wants to do the same thing so that he can also get the same benefit.

10. Harvard University Press in Collective Action :

Harvard University offers publishing services that are relevant to researchers and authors who write about collective action.

10.1 Book Publishing:

Harvard University Press is known for high-quality publishing books on researching collective action.

10.2 Peer view:

It is the process of credibility for authors who research the field of collective action.

10.3 Marketing and Promotions:

This service helps to reach academic audiences and potential readers who are interested in collective action.

This is simply a called promoting services to needy people

If they get services then they will able to get benefits from the government.

10.4 Digital Publishing:

Press-designed digital publishing by providing E-books which can add research on collective action.

10.5 Global Reach:

HUP’s Publication extends to the United States, helping the global diffusion of collective action.

11. Social Psychology in Collective Action:

Social Psychology explains many forms of collective action including motivation, group behavior, and the success and failure of collective action.

11.1 Social Identity Theory:

Henri Tajfel and John Turner underlined the group identity of collective action.

11.2 Ingroup and outgroup :

Accordingly, Social Psychology is the thought of their group as an Ingroup and other groups as an Outgroup.

11.3 Social Norms:

Social check how social norms within a group collective can change individuals’ behavior.

12 Human Captial:

Human capital plays an important role in collective action efforts.

It requires knowledge, skills, and experts to solve social issues.

For example, if do not have any knowledge of how they stand or solve any issue.

12.1 Leadership skills:

However, Good leaders with strong human capital motivate people that we should make changes in our world.

Leadership skill is very important, if the leader is not doing well then people can not go ahead.

Because people always follow their leader for a better future.

12.2 Communication:

Good communication skills can send a collective group’s message to the public.

12.3 Legal Expertise:

Also, Legal expertise is needed to understand and find legal issues.

13. Logic of Collective Action:

Accordingly, In 1965 manicure Olson wrote the book ”logic of Collective Action”

he explained the challenges and acts of collective action.

In this, he explained how individuals were facing problems and then they found a solution that they can make a group where they can add their thoughts and ideas so that they can solve the common issues.

Also, he added a ‘‘Free rider Problem” in his book from which he noted that everyone has to get the benefits without paying or contributing.

Likewise, he added ” Selective Incentives” his point was to give incentives to those who are actively participating

He wrote that give benefits to them for their hard work.

14. Cambridge University Press in Collective Action:

It is an Academic Publishing university where many books are pub;ihsed translated to collective action.

Also, they have written many books on social changes, a clean world, and improvement in education.

They also covered many topics from which people get motivated and come forward to achieve common objectives.

Cambridge University played an important role in Collective Action, when people read books they get more motivated.

We need more universities and writers who can encourage people to change our world.

14.1. Collective Action Examples:

However, We have seen many examples of collective action whether it is social, environmental or labor, farmer, civil rights, and many more.

Whenever we think about changing the world remember these examples so that we can take a step.

In today’s world, Everyone is facing many problems whether it is related to education or women’s rights

If we take a step we can join together or form groups then we can create many examples.

So this upcoming generation can learn and follow the steps to achieve common goals. Everyone should take a stand for their rights and connect with the groups who are going to change our world.

14.2. Russell Spears Conducted:

He is known for his social psychologist research on collective action.

He has conducted many social events in some areas, where he convinced people to join together. Spears told people not to make decisions with feelings.

His point was that helping each other can motivate them to reach their goals. Russell also addressed the importance of leaders who can inspire people toward their missions.

Finally, he researched behaviors and how people can motivated to connect with collective actions and get benefits that will be helpful for others.

14.3.  Collective Action Theory:

In addition, the collective theory is all about social issues, progress, and improvement in our world.

The theory concludes with historical changes that were made before and how they created a clean world.

People read theory but they do not take any action until it is will be done.

Conclusion

In this article, we have seen how collective action can change our world with a group of people who want to change our Society and think positively to make our world into a new shape. With this, we can solve many issues like social, environmental, education, and healthcare so that everyone’s life is comfortable. 

This article has explained that if we change our world there are some challenges and barriers that can happen but we have to face them to achieve our collective action.

Also, Historical movements taught us how we can maintain this collective action for the long term and human rights. One person cannot change our world we need more people and groups who can join together to solve and come forward for social issues.

In today’s world, everyone is using digital apps, so we can raise or spread information through social media, by doing this everyone gets their rights and they also help each other to change Social issues.

So go forward with this collective action and make a power of unity and commitment from individuals so we can continue to make our changes all over the world.