Activism, in a general sense, can be described as involvement in action to bring about change, be it social, political, environmental, or other change. This action is in support of or opposition to one side of a controversial argument.
In contemporary use, "activism" tends to be a word associated with the actions and ideologies of those on the political left. However, the activism industry includes organizations of many orientations.
There are many different forms of activism; a select list follows.