Contribution to the theory of social movements on the internet

Recognizing the difficulty of defining the theoretical concept for social movement in the so-called post-industrial society, information society or society of post-material demands, this article explores the major consensus on the new social movements to analyze whether the movements on the Internet in this context may be considered of not social movements. Therefore, it is addressed, first, the mobilization of groups on the Internet, to understand it in its political place; this implies the analysis of the role of media in comtemporary democracies, and specifically an analysis of strengths and disadvantadges brought about by Internet. The Free Sotware movement, a movement of post-material demands, is therefore approached as a paradigmatic case that not only takes advantage of the network structure as a means of mobilization, but also has as content an activism for a freedom that is typical of the digital world, a conjunction, therefore, of means of action and goals. A preliminary study of the degree of institutionalization of the movement and a classification of their demands is also carried on. This work is thus to perform a brief outline of these two aspects, to put the debate, and, finally, reach a critical position in relation to both the performance of movements throgh the internet and regarding the understanding of whether the Free Software movement can be understood as a social movement in the existing paradigm.