Repertoires of contention: The impact on state-civil society relations when civil society organisations develop new social mobilisation campaign activities in response to the climate crisis

• In Event: Crisis Impact and Societal Response of Civil Society

Abstract

This project utilises comparative case studies in the UK and Australia to explore how new repertoires of social mobilisation contribute to the shifting dynamics of civic stratification in the age of uncertainty. It interrogates the relationship between the state, the market, individuals and civil society in the politics of the energy transition from fossil fuels.
Whilst attention has been given to collaborative relationships between the third sector and the state (Salamon and Toepler, 2015), less is understood about more contentious third sector-state relations. Third sector studies can gain insights from the social movement literature (Sanders, 2023). Evers and Von Essen (2019) questioned the binary distinction between ‘volunteering’ and ‘civic action’. Social movements are conventionally conceptualised outside of the state (Pettinicchio, 2012). Their actions are understood as collective action of a conflictual nature (Diani and Della Porta, 2006). Tilly (2005) coined the phrase repertoires, referring to the activities that are learned and shared between groups (Chadwick 2007). Social media has perpetuated new repertoires (Juris, 2012), though its proliferation has created a growing challenge in how to produce content in an increasingly saturated environment (Cammaerts, 2012; Uldam, 2013). Thus, extant literature has recognised that repertoires evolve with new technologies, but less is understood about how this relates to the consecutive global crises of the last decade, and the imminent threat of the climate crisis. This paper addresses this with the research questions: What new forms of social mobilisation and translocal networking are emerging in civil society organisations in response to the climate crisis, and how do these impact on the relationship between citizens and the state?
A purposive sample of British and Australian climate activist organisations were identified through a social media analysis. Semi-structured interviews were undertaken with key actors and discourse analysis was used.
Emergent findings reveal a ‘crossing the line’ discourse against fossil fuel corporations that locates activists position on the moderate-radical scale. Similarly, perspectives on the effectiveness of collaboration with politicians and state mechanisms varied. Activists engaged with multiple organisations. New organisation formation reflected pivoting in response to governments and corporations. Transition towards more contentious activity was associated with a growing sense of powerlessness to engage governments in climate change. Accounts of despair were prevalent amongst civil society activists, with a burnout dominating the discourses across the sample. An emerging action is the embedding of nurturing mechanisms within and across networked organisations to support individuals’ wellbeing, leaning on connection and shared identity. Governments actions to legislate against protest were critiqued, but also understood as fruitful for securing wider public support to the cause. However, the Australian governments’ use of non-association court orders left prominent individuals isolated.
Therefore, the climate crisis is driving contentious repertoires that target corporations, but government interventions create a complex entanglement between civil society, market and the state. Given the transnational cooperation within civil society, these findings have international relevance, both theoretically, in developing a social movement – third sector shared scholarship, and in practice, in understanding how to support civil society to protect our planet’s future.

References

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Diani M and Della Porta D (2006) Social movements an introduction. Malden, MA: Blackwell Publishing.
Evers A and Von Essen J (2019) Volunteering and Civic Action: Boundaries Blurring, Boundaries Redrawn. Voluntas: International Journal of Voluntary and Nonprofit Organizations 30(1): 1-14.
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Salamon LM and Toepler S (2015) Government - Nonprofit Cooperation: Anomaly or Necessity? Voluntas: International Journal of Voluntary and Nonprofit Organizations 26(6): 2155-2177.
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Authors

• Amy Sanders, Aberystwyth University

• Carol Richards, Queensland University of Technology

• Robyn Mayes, Queensland University of Technology

• Mike Woods, Aberystwyth University

• Flossie Caerwynt, Aberystwyth University

• Sophie Wynne Jones, Bangor University