INFORMAL ORGANIZATIONS AS AGENTS OF CHANGE: NOTES FROM THE CONTEMPORARY WOMEN'S MOVEMENT IN INDIA.

The question of social movement organizations (SMO) being informally structured and effective has puzzled both activists and scholars of many new social movements such as the women's, youth, peace, and environmental movements. These movements are concerned not only with changing social structures, values, and practices, but also the processes by which changes are sought. The question itself reflects a major theoretical debate in the social movement literature. Women's movements like the Stree Mukti Sangharsh in India, were primarily informal discussions and exchanges of information and resources about campaign issues. Such informality is a product of the larger social movement culture in India. Social movements in India have not undergone the level of professionalization as of those in Western countries. Most movements do not have the material resources or personnel to develop formal SMO and networks. Furthermore, most movements share the commitment to participatory structures and attempt to reproduce them, even at the network level. Because informal networks reduce conflicts over ideology and have low maintenance costs, they may be more viable than previously assumed.