Social movement coalitions: Formation, longevity, and success

Abstract

Social movements rely on coalitions to help mobilize the mass numbers of people necessary for success. In this article, we review the literature on social movement coalition formation, longevity, and success. We identify five factors critical to coalition formation: (a) social ties; (b) conducive organizational structures; (c) ideology, culture, and identity; (d) the institutional environment; and (e) resources. Next, we explore the extent to which coalition survival is influenced by these same factors and argue that emergent properties of the coalition, such as commitment and trust, also facilitate longevity. Our review of the literature reveals that two factors specific to coalitions influence their success: coalition form and the nature of institutional targets. Interaction, communication technology, and the availability of physical and virtual spaces that facilitate communication are themes that run throughout our discussion, as they undergird many of the elements that shape coalition formation and survival. We conclude by evaluating the state of the research area and suggesting directions for further research.

Diverse social movement coalitions: Prospects and challenges

“…Among other things, this will require consideration of what type of coalition one is studying given some of the varying challenges they are likely to face. For instance, is it an event coalition or a longer‐term alliance (Van Dyke & Amos, )? And is the coalition, within‐movement, cross‐movement, identity group based, pan‐ethnic, intersectional, and/or a state actor–social movement coalition (Brooker & Meyer, )?…”

“…Crucially, such alliances are able to put more pressure on targets and enhance political leverage (Almeida, ; Staggenborg, ). Perhaps not surprisingly then, coalitions are associated with increased rates of success (Beamish & Luebbers, ; Gamson, ; Van Dyke & Amos, ). Broad coalitions have been recognized as particularly important given their advantage in mobilizing larger numbers of people and enabling the employment of tactics across greater geographic space, which can further increase the chances for movement success (Almeida, , ; Gelb & Shogan, ).…”

“…Indeed, with little consideration of the value of diverse coalitions, it is hard to know if they are worth the time and energy that inevitably comes with working across difference (Beamish & Luebbers, ; Gawerc, , ; Wood, ), let alone the increased risks for misunderstandings and conflicts, which can undermine both commitment and movement efficacy (Gamson, ; Walker & Stepick, ). Ideological and cultural similarities between partners have been deemed particularly important for effective collaboration (Dixon, Danaher, & Kail, ; Hathaway & Meyer, ; Isaac, ; Van Dyke & Amos, ) and yet, neither considerations can be assumed for coalitions that cross racial, ethnic, class, and national lines. Indeed, not only are cultural differences inevitable for such groups, but also ideological congruence is less likely when there is greater social distance between participants (Barkan, ).…”

The Global Adolescent Girl Agenda: An Analysis of the Emergence and the Political Outcomes of Two Global Health Networks

“…Similarly, pre-existing features of the policy environment, such as norms, may create opportunities for effective framing that will resonate with policymakers (Shiffman et al, 2016a: i9). I also note that the research on the transnational women's movement and social movement coalitions has also highlighted the significance of some of these variables, including leadership (Moghadam, 2005: 98;Van Dyke & Amos, 2017), organizational structure, and governance (Moghadam, 2005: 99-102;Van Dyke & Amos, 2017). Moreover, much like the GHAPP, previous research on social movement coalitions has also demonstrated that factors internal to a coalition as well as features of a coalition's external environment explain coalition formation, longevity, and outcomes (Van Dyke & Amos, 2017).…”

Immigrant rights and social movements

“…Scholars have also found that religious clubs/organizations and churches also bring immigrant communities from different ethnic groups together and reinforce panethnic identities among group members (Lopez & Espiritu, ; Okamoto & Mora, ; Ricourt & Danta, ). Such processes facilitate multi‐group coalitions (Van Dyke & Amos, ) and immigrant mobilization. Indeed, on the eve of the massive 2006 demonstrations for immigrant rights, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops organized a “Justice for Immigrants” campaign that was coordinated nationally through dioceses and parishes (Heredia, ).…”