3 Applying pressure to leaders

You have covered how a constituency can be mobilised in support of an individual leader. But at other times, getting the right person into the right position may not be the best approach to achieving change on your issue. Another approach to campaigning is to mobilise a constituency to leverage change from those already in formal positions of power. We sometimes hear this discussed as ‘public pressure’ or ‘popular opinion’. Signing petitions, attending demonstrations, lobbying parliament. This is the kind of campaigning most associated with social movements and pressure groups, but it is also true of trade unions and political parties.

Figure 4 Collectives can demand change from individual leaders

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The image shows a group of protestors. One holds a placard that reads ‘End Systemic Racism’.

Figure 4 Collectives can demand change from individual leaders

You will now consider the role of the collective in campaigning and how acting collectively can win specific changes from leaders in positions of formal authority. Remember, while people often think of leaders as individuals, leadership can also be approached as a collective practice. These campaigns can be undertaken internally within organisations or externally when an organisation campaigns to win something from someone else. In this section, you will see how collectives can lead campaigns and consider strategies and tactics to approach this kind of campaigning.