The analysis points to the complexity of relationships that influence mobilization and social movements in the south, suggesting that previous theories have underplayed the influence of state power and of elite dominance in the government and in non-governmental organizations. All this unsettles the notion that social activism leads inexorably to democracy and development. So what motivates collective action and what does it achieve? The answer depends on the political and historical context, and the legacy of mobilization, though in all contexts the examples clearly show that understanding the role of the state in relation to these movements is critical to determining when collective action can fulfil the promise of bringing the rights of the marginalized to the fore.