Making change: What works (Runnymede Trust and IPPR, November 2021)

Summary

Movements change the world. Throughout history, loosely organised networks of individuals and organisations have sought changes to societies – and won. From the abolitionist struggle and campaigns for voting rights to #MeToo and #BlackLivesMatter, the impact of movements can be seen everywhere.

Content

Over the last year, the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) and the Runnymede Trust have sought to understand what we can learn from movements that have made change – as well as those who have fallen short – for our efforts to create change today. They did this by exploring what worked and didn’t work for four movements from recent decades. These were:

• LGBTQ+ rights
• race equality
• climate action
• health inequality.

Findings:

• Insight 1: Evidence alone cannot change the world.
• Insight 2: Movements need a well-developed ecosystem of influence.
• Insight 3: Successful movements are rarely organic: they require active cultivation.
• Insight 4: Successful movements prepare for and then harness external events.
• Insight 5: Movements must mine their assets – and address their limitations.