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This article examines the ways in which modernity and its main components contributed to the formation of sO,cial movements in the west. The article begins with the conceptualization of modernity and argues that its basic components which are sometimes regarded as distinct phenomena are essentially
interrelated. It suggests that modernity can be analytically
divided into three main formations: cultural (or discursive ), socio-economic (capitalism) and political (modern nation-state and liberal democracy). All of these - seperately and in an interactive manner - gave shape to collective identities because of the contradictory subjective and/or objective positions they for collective action and made the n10vements meaningful.

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