research
Why civil resistance works The strategic logic of nonviolent conflict
The historical record indicates that nonviolent campaigns have been more successful than armed campaigns in achieving ultimate goals in political struggles, even when used against similar opponents and in the face of repression. Nonviolent campaigns are more likely to...
Why are so many environmental activists struggling to remain positive?
ABC Online > When environmental researcher Georgie Smith began noticing her sustainability peers lose steam for the fight, she realised the issue manifested similarly for many. “It seems to mimic the grieving process. First there’s denial, then people...
Community Engagement to Facilitate Legitimise and Accelerate the Advancement of GMOs in Australia
Despite promises that community engagement activities will enable policy makers to identify complex and contested community attitudes, and that these will be included as part of the policy making process, a closer look at Australia’s engagement activities reveals...
Brian Martin’s ‘backfire’ materials and publications
The backfire model is a framework for understanding tactics used by perpetrators of injustice and how to oppose them. This site provides links to a great collection of resources written by Brian Martin and others.
Black Power in Redfern (Gary Foley, 2001)
Black Power was a political movement that emerged among African-Americans in the United States in the mid-1960s. The concept sought to express a new racial consciousness, and Robert Williams, of the NAACP, was the first to put the actual term to effective use in the...
Rethinking deliberative governance: dissecting the Queensland landclearing campaign
The remarkable campaign highlights an apparent rupture between the discourses and practices of deliberative governance and adversarial power politics. The orthodox processes of consensus politics were rejected as inadequate by conservationists in favour of a strategic...
Solar festivals and climate bills: Comparing NGO climate change campaigns in the UK and Australia
Nina Hall and Ros Taplin’s study compares climate change campaigns by selected environmental non-government organisations (NGOs) in the United Kingdom (UK) and Australia in 2006. It describes the variety of campaigns and examines the conditions under which...
Ecofeminist strategies for change
Jarrah’s (1998) study of ecofeminist activism in Western Australia examines the practical strategies of women who embrace ecofeminist philosophies and ideals. Findings from this research are discussed in relation to ecofeminist theory and contextualised w
Make Copenhagen a starting point
How can the popular movements involved in climate change become a social movement for building a sustainable society? Tord Bjork argues there will be no agreement in Copenhagen with substantial content that will bring about changes necessary for stopping
Om Gaia dudes: The North East Forest Alliances’s old growth forest campaign
Aidan Ricketts’ (2003) analysis of NEFA’s forest campaign, based on activist interviews. Published in Wilson H (ed) Belonging In the Rainbow Region, SCU Press, Lismore.
Comm-Org
Moderated and edited by Randy Stoecker, Comm-org’s mission is to link academics and activists, and theory and practice, toward the goal of improving community organizing and its related crafts. Terrific resources, case studies and links.
Nonviolent action.net
We are scholars, activists, students, researchers, trainers, teachers, adherents, advocates of nonviolent action.
Catalyst Centre
Non- profit worker co-op that promotes innovative learning, popular education, research and community development to advance positive social change.
Advocacy for social justice and sustainability
Steve Chase convenes this incredible postgraduate course at Antioch University, New England.
Alternatives Journal: Canadian Environmental Ideas & Action
Independent Canadian journal aiming to provide critical and informed analysis of environmental issues.
‘Public Advocacy and Action’ Diploma and Masters program (Victoria University)
This innovative postgraduate course has been specifically designed to enhance the knowledge of professionals working in international and local advocacy, community, human rights and environment areas.
‘Activism and Social Change’ Masters Program @ University of Leeds
This multi-disciplinary course brings together the worlds of academia and social struggle. It is run by academics working and researching with a variety of campaigns, social movement organisations and communities struggling against social and ecological injustice, and...
Investment Risk: An Amplification Tool for Social Movement Campaigns Globally and Locally
Aidan Ricketts’ latest offering examines emerging corporate campaigning models that have been employed in global campaigns and ways in which these techniques can be effectively deployed in local grassroots campaigns. His article focuses on the community campaign...