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November 15, 2014
Theories and Gandhi’s Movement
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Theories and Gandhi’s Movement
There are many different things that come into play that account for the success of
Gandhi’s movement that hastened English elites’ decisions to grant India independence. All of
Gandhi’s movements were preached to be non-violent, including the means by which they got
there, showing that the beliefs and the actions of the movement itself were just as important as
the outcome. Gandhi’s methods of non-violent protests such as fasting and prayer are what
ultimately guided India through to achieving their own independence.
As McAdam (1982) states in his book, Political Process and the Development of Black
Insurgency,“…the emergence of widespread protest activity is the result of a combination of
expanding political opportunities and indigenous organization, as mediated through a crucial
process of collective attribution” (pg.2). Political opportunity, as explained by McAdam, says
that social movements are influenced by politics. Meaning how successful a movement is versus
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