A reform movement seeks to bring a society or political system closer to an ideal, reflecting a belief in the potential for change within existing institutions. Unlike revolutionary movements that reject the existing order, reformers tend to believe that government has a vital role to play in promoting social change.
While many reform efforts have been sparked by crisis, widespread dissatisfaction has also frequently fueled them. In the antebellum United States, for example, changing economic and social conditions gave rise to numerous reform movements, including religious reform, temperance, abolition, women’s suffrage, and broader access to education. Although there was no single ideology underlying these movements, they were often related, with activists revolving around loosely linked conventions where they shared enthusiasms and political strategies.
The synonyms amend, correct, emend, rectify, and remedy all roughly imply improving by removing faults or deviations, though revise generally implies a more fundamental improvement. The words redress and reform are close in meaning, with redress implying compensation or reparation for unfairness or injustice, while reform suggests a more general change to improve.
Co-founded by Nigel Farage in 2018 as the Single-Issue Brexit Party, Reform UK rebranded in 2021 to reflect its broadening political platform. Its manifesto includes plans to limit immigration, cut taxes, reduce red tape and oppose net-zero carbon policies. It also promises to “re-examine” the funding model for the NHS, with Mr Farage arguing that the current system is ripe for a major overhaul.
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