Social Movement and Militancy: A Perspective from Within

Abstract

Social and identity assertion movements aim at bringing about positive change in society, but some are have come to be associated with militancy and activities of extremism, violence and loss of life. However, this involves a complex process often forced by neglect of the milder means of articulating and asserting their rights by groups who experience and feel marganilised, neglected and dominated by the state or the dominant section of society who also exercise authority and power. This paper presents a narrative and argument of social movements turning militant from within a community’s perspective of their movement for rights – to be recognised and granted. The article also proposes a frame of understanding the process of social movements turning into militant and extremist mode in their approach