Goals, Strategies, and Tactics
Continuity and Change in Extinction Rebellion in the United Kingdom
in ContentionSearch for other papers by Benjamin Farrer in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Search for other papers by Linda Doyle in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Search for other papers by Soleil Smith in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
All currencies in US Dollar
Abstract
Extinction Rebellion emerged in 2018 in the United Kingdom, and their activism quickly attracted the media spotlight, leading to similar groups springing up around this world. This swift ascendancy led to considerable interest in what is new or different about them. In this article, we review existing theories about this, and add an additional perspective. We argue that their most innovative feature is how they connect their tactics to their goals—i.e. their disruptive strategy. We use an original survey of members to support this argument. Our conclusions help pinpoint what is innovative about Extinction Rebellion UK, as well as to better understand their lessons for the broader environmental movement, especially in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Contributor Notes
Benjamin Farrer is Visiting Assistant Professor of Political Science at the University of Nevada Las Vegas. His research interests include political organizations, environmental policy, and the effects of technology on democratic institutions. Email: benjamin.farrer@unlv.edu
Soleil Smith is a graduate student in sociology at the University of Illinois, Chicago. She focuses on Environmental Justice Social Movements and the complex dynamics that race and policing can have on their behavior and structure.
Linda Doyle is a freelance facilitator of workshops, trainings, and meetings. She has worked with organisations such as Extinction Rebellion UK, Animal Think Tank, Climate2025, The Cynefin Centre and more. Her background is in social and behavioural science with a focus on quantitative research and data analysis.