Read all about reformist movements and revivalist movements. Reformism is a political doctrine that favours modifying an existing structure or institution as opposed to getting rid of it and replacing it. A progressive movement is a type of social organisation that works to create social or political structures that are more in line with the aspirations of the community. Others, like Mahatma Gandhi’s flywheel and the identity village economy, rely on local communes, while others emphasise personal development as a means of societal change. This article has all the information about reformist movements and revivalist movements for UPSC exam preparations.

Reformist movements relied more on reason and rationalism in accepting or rejecting a social custom or religious tradition. Reformist movements were influenced by contemporary Western notions in the socio-cultural arena, such as freedom of choice in a life partner and gender equality. Leaders of these movements declined to completely remake society along western lines, despite accepting modern western principles. They aimed at modernization, not westernisation.

The core ideals of such movements frequently include advocating for gender equality, embracing the freedom of choice in matters like marriage, and generally aligning with Western principles in the socio-cultural realm. However, these movements often seek to strike a balance by not completely transforming their societies into replicas of the West. Rather, they aim to infuse modern concepts into their existing cultural frameworks, adapting them to local contexts.

Reformist Movements and Revivalist Movements Classifications

Some attempts to categorise movements include the desired change’s direction and speed. In this context, adjectives like revolutionary, conservative, liberal, and conservative are commonly used. The phrases “revolutionary” and “reform,” which are usually employed in this context in a slightly different connotation from that mentioned above, are seen to advocate for swift, abrupt change, while reform movements advocate for gradual, evolutionary change.

An additional typology was offered by American sociologist Lewis M. Killian based on the direction of the shift that was supported or resisted. A reactionary movement aims to fix an old social problem, whereas a progressive movement wants to create a brand-new social structure. A conservative movement argues for the preservation of established norms and standards while rejecting changes promoted by other movements or those that seem to arise as a result of cultural drift.

When there is no competing movement advancing the same objective, it is termed non-factional. The respectable nonpartisan movement faces challenges with apathy and nominal support, but it has effective channels for communicating its values. While a strong factional movement must contend with rival organisations working towards the same overarching objective, it also has realistic strategies for growing its influence.