The role of movement leaders in building intergroup solidarity for social change: A case of the electoral reform movement in Malaysia

Leaders of social movements play a critical role in mobilizing broader society for social change. However, we know little about how movement leaders strategize to build a movement. To examine this issue, we interviewed the central leadership team of the electoral reform movement (Bersih) in Malaysia...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:European journal of social psychology 2020-02, Vol.50 (1), p.224-238
Main Authors: Selvanathan, Hema Preya, Khoo, Ying Hooi, Lickel, Brian
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Electoral reform
Identity
intergroup solidarity
Leadership
Racial groups
Reforms
Social change
Social cohesion
Social movements
Teams
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Summary:Leaders of social movements play a critical role in mobilizing broader society for social change. However, we know little about how movement leaders strategize to build a movement. To examine this issue, we interviewed the central leadership team of the electoral reform movement (Bersih) in Malaysia, before and after a mass protest organized by the movement. We then used thematic analysis to provide theoretically derived insights into how the leaders fostered intergroup solidarity among multiple racial groups. Specifically, they (a) expanded the movement's boundaries to include new groups within its support base, (b) shared the demands of the movement with multiple groups, and (c) highlighted leaders that were representative of different groups the movement sought to unite. These findings demonstrate how leaders attempt to craft an inclusive movement identity (i.e., who we are, what we do, who stands for us) to mobilize a diverse society for social change.
ISSN:0046-2772
1099-0992
DOI:10.1002/ejsp.2598