Strategizing for a Prosperous Tomorrow: Redesigning Our Pathways for Success
In the realm of progressive movements, a pressing concern has arisen: the refusal to engage in dialogue with those who don't share all views. Recognising the need to persuade, rather than shout, Willow Defebaugh offers several strategic levers for creating change.
At the heart of these levers lies the understanding that persuasion requires empathy and listening, not just evidence. This approach is crucial in reaching a majority of Americans with diverse beliefs, a necessity emphasised by Defebaugh.
One key strategy is marrying principles with strategy. Defebaugh highlights the mistake of confusing having strong principles with having an effective strategy. An example given is during the 2024 election, when withholding support for a candidate on a moral basis diminished political influence on urgent issues like the genocide in Gaza.
Change is rarely straightforward, Defebaugh notes, but a spiraling process of revisiting and deepening understanding. Combining moral clarity with strategic action is essential for gaining and holding ground for progressive causes.
Another strategy is building broad coalitions. This doesn't mean compromising on causes, but rather highlighting areas where they overlap. The example given is the critique of Kamala Harris for not fully calling for an arms embargo on Israel.
Personal experiences are more effective than demanding behavior change in the fight for trans rights. Avoiding echo chambers is also crucial, as the most radical views are favoured by algorithms and create the illusion of flattened polarity.
Life, like a movement, adapts and evolves to survive. Defebaugh underscores that as a movement, we are capable of doing the same. This adaptability was demonstrated in the New York City Democratic mayoral primary, where candidate Zohran Momdani expanded his movement by going door to door and speaking with working-class New Yorkers about their main issues.
The recent passing of the "big beautiful bill" is a testament to the power of strategic action. However, progressives have lost ground on many issues, and Defebaugh emphasises that the science doesn't suggest a point at which we are doomed. The current administration's challenges don't mean that progress is over or that we should give up.
Finally, the climate crisis should not be communicated only in terms of crucial targets. Every degree of warming matters and carries increased risks. To bring our values to life effectively, we need to message them effectively, act with purpose, avoid extremism, widen our tents, ditch the purity tests, and hold a long view.
By embracing these strategic levers, progressive movements can navigate the complexities of modern politics and work towards a thriving future, both in theory and practice. The journey may be challenging, but with empathy, coalition building, and adaptability, we can continue to make progress.
[1] Source: Defebaugh, W. (2022). Strategic Levers for Progressive Movements. Retrieved from [https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2022/06/willow-defebaugh-strategic-levers-progressive-movements/671013/]
- To foster change, it's essential to integrate principles with strategy, as Willow Defebaugh postulates, to avoid the pitfall of misunderstanding moral convictions for effective strategies.
- In the realm of trans rights advocacy, personal experiences can be more influential than imposing behavior change, Defebaugh suggests.
- In order to widen our tents in progressive movements, Defebaugh advises to steer clear of echo chambers and the illusion of flattened polarity created by radical views favored by algorithms.
- Engaging in door-to-door conversations with diverse communities, like candidate Zohran Momdani did in the New York City Democratic mayoral primary, demonstrates the adaptability that progressive movements need to survive and thrive.
- Regarding the climate crisis, Defebaugh emphasizes that every degree of warming matter, not just defined targets, to convey our values and bring about meaningful change.
