Based on Mapping the Progressive Movement by Jean Hardisty and Ana Perea. Read the original report here

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To build a movement for progressive social change, we need to reach across boundaries and build coalitions based on mutual respect and accountability. Ideally, we will engage in cross-sector work. Under the banner of a broad global human rights movement, these are the various sectors we need to support:

Issues & Sectors

These are the basic building blocks of a
successful social movement:

• A discontented group of politicized persons who share the perception that they have common grievances they want society to address;

• A powerful and lucid ideological vision linked to strategies and tactics that have some reasonable chance of success;

• The recruitment of people into the movement through pre-existing social, political, and cultural networks;

• A core group of trusted strategic leaders and local activists who effectively mobilize, organize, educate, and communicate with the politicized mass base;

• The efficient mobilization of resources that are available, or can be developed, to assist the movement to meet its goals;

• An institutional infrastructure integrating political coordination, research and policy think tanks, training centers, conferences, and alternative media.

• Opportunities in the larger political and social scene that can be exploited by movement leaders and activists;

• The skillful framing of ideas and slogans for multiple audiences such as leaders, members, potential recruits, policymakers, and the general public.

• An attractive movement culture that creates a sense of community through mass rituals, celebrations, music, drama, poetry, art, and narrative stories about past victories, current struggles, and future successes.

• The ability of recruits to craft a coherent and functional identity as a movement participant.

  (This list is based on the work of Goffman, Zald, McCarthy, Meyer, Gamson, Snow, McAdam, Benford, Klandermans, Johnston, Ewick, Silbey, Polletta, and many other scholars)
  

Methods & Infrastructure of
Collaborative Social Movements

General Public	Membership Groups	Electoral & Legislative	Corporate Media
Alternative Media & Corporate Media	Speakers Invited to Address Meetings	National & State Political Party Builders	Obtaining News Coverage
Leaflets & Flyers	Information Placed in Newsletters	Congressional Membership Organizations	Op-Eds
Rallies & Events	Tabling at Meetings & Conferences	Political Coalitions & Networks	Letters to the Editor

 

 

Get Involved! Take Action!

Join with others:

• Defending Democracy, Diversity, and Human Rights
• Defending Immigrant Rights
• Defending Pluralist Modern Public Education
• Defending Reproductive Rights
• Defending Justice
• Building Equality: Defending Democracy & Diversity
• Building Economic Justice
• Building Justice for Organized Labor & Working People
• Building a Just Foreign Policy and Lasting Peace

Based on a presentation developed by PRA's Jean Hardisty and Ana Perea