Guidance Handbook and Self-Assessment Tool
In the heart of today's social security movements, understanding the ebb and flow of a campaign is crucial. A framework, known as the Movement Compass, offers a valuable tool for organizers navigating the cycle of a successful social movement.
The Movement Compass, based on Bill Moyer's Movement Action Plan, identifies six key phases that winning movements tend to follow: an enduring crisis, an uprising, a peak, a contraction, an evolution, and a new normal.
The enduring crisis phase is characterized by growing public anger and limited social security infrastructure to confront the crisis. This is often a period of preparation, where the seeds of change are sown.
The uprising phase begins with a trigger event and is marked by massive mobilization. This is the moment when the movement gathers momentum and begins to make its presence felt.
The peak phase is characterized by viral growth and expansion of the cause, with the future defined by the movement's vision. However, this phase is often followed by the contraction phase, marked by disillusionment, backlash, repression, and internal divisions.
The contraction phase is a period of learning and reflection, during which organizers analyze their progress and consolidate any wins. This is a crucial time for movements to regroup and reorganize, setting the stage for the evolution phase.
The evolution phase is a period of growth and adaptation. Movements in this phase are learning from their experiences, reorganizing with inherited wisdom, and settling into a new configuration. This is a time for movements to experiment with new groups and goals to give the movement new life.
Finally, the new normal phase is a period of preparation for the next crisis and trigger event. Movements in this phase are setting society's agenda and taking ambitious risks.
To better understand social movements, it's helpful to view them as happening in cycles. According to research from Movement Netlab, movements follow a cycle from rising anger, to a trigger moment, to a heroic phase, honeymoon, disillusionment, learning and reflection, and re-growth.
For those interested in learning more about the Movement Compass, there are several resources available. The Global Organising and Development Programme GOLD by Move The Global Social Movement Centre offers a free, online course on the Movement Cycle. Additionally, the Movement Compass tool helps organizers determine the phase of the cycle their movement is in and provides recommendations for actions and considerations.
However, it's important to remember that movements can fall prey to a rigid understanding of history. Situations can change quickly, and it's essential to be ready to respond accordingly. Allen Kwabena Frimpong, a former principal member of Movement Netlab, discusses the present moment in the movement cycle and what we might expect next in his podcast, Understanding the Social Movement Cycle.
In conclusion, the Movement Compass offers a valuable tool for organizers navigating the cycle of a social movement. By understanding the natural changes that a winning movement will often experience, organizers can avoid seeing each contraction as a personal or collective defeat and instead guide their movements to strategically ride out the waves.
