What are tactics in the context of social movements?

In the context of social movements, tactics refer to the specific actions or methods employed to achieve the movement's objectives. These actions can include protests, advocacy, lobbying, and community organizing. Tactics are often designed to mobilize supporters, draw attention to issues, or influence public opinion and policy.

Understanding tactics is crucial because they are the means through which broader strategies and goals are realized. For instance, while a movement may have overarching aims such as social equality or environmental justice, the tactics are the concrete steps taken to make progress toward those aims. This distinction emphasizes that tactics are about implementation at the ground level, focusing on how to effectively enact the strategies laid out by the movement’s leaders or agenda.