Alienation is a key concept in the Frankfurt School's theory of the new social movements. It refers to the process by which individuals are separated from their labor, from the products of their labor, and from other people. Alienation is a source of dissatisfaction and unrest, and it can lead to the emergence of new social movements.

According to the Frankfurt School, the culture industry plays a key role in the reproduction of capitalism. It creates a false consciousness among the working class by promoting consumerism and materialism. It also legitimizes the existing social order by presenting it as natural and inevitable.

According to the Frankfurt School, the new social movements are a break from the traditional working-class movement. They argue that the new social movements are not primarily concerned with economic issues, but rather with issues of identity, culture, and the environment.

According to the Frankfurt School, the new social movements have the potential to bring about a revolutionary transformation of society, to reform the existing social order, and to raise awareness of important social issues.

Jürgen Habermas is a key figure in the Frankfurt School's theory of the new social movements. His work on the public sphere and communicative action has been influential in the development of the theory.