Chipko movement is a good example of ecological movement in the foothills of Himalayas. In this movement villagers joined together some oak and rhododendron forests near their villages. When Govt. Forest contractors who came to cut the trees, a large number of villagers including women surrounded them to stop the felling of trees. Actually the Hindi word chipko means long. Thus, the villagers saved the forest on which the villagers depended for firewood, fodder and other daily necessities. Thus, the question of cutting trees was really a question of the essence of the villagers.

First, the historical context differs greatly between the old and new social movements. Older social movements were either class based such as the working class or the parents movement or the anti-colonial movement. Thus the older social movements clearly saw the reorganization of power relations as a central goal. On the other hand, the new social movements are neither class based nor about the reorganization of state power.

Secondly, the older social movements worked within the framework of political parties. For example, the Indian National Congress led the Indian National Movement. But the new social movements are non-partisan in character. New social movements such as women's groups, environmental movements and tribal activists are non-political and non-partisan in character.