“Defensive” periods are critically hard for social change activists. There are the “normal” challenges of organizing and advocacy: people, resources, time. There’s exhaustion, and a high emotional toll.
On top of this, supporters can struggle to articulate how defense promotes their goals – goals that almost always were created with policy progress in mind.
In the late 2010s, thought-leaders at Democracy Fund and ORS Impact wrestled with this problem: How to think and talk strategically about “impact” when accomplishments are defensive? Their work – which adroitly defines categories of defensive advocacy and the significance of each — is a must-read for people wrestling with this issue.
New on my Resources Page is guide that illustrates how Fine Gauge Strategy has used defensive advocacy concepts in our work. It provides tips for better planning and supporter communications in a defensive advocacy environment.
We hope you find this analysis helpful and welcome your feedback. If you’re engaged in defensive advocacy now, many thanks for your efforts.
