Forging Radical Alliances across Difference: Coalition Politics for the New Millennium

As we enter the twenty-first century, scholars, activists and others concerned with social change increasingly realize that in order to transform society effective coalitions among different groups working for social justice need to be created and maintained. However, most of the research and writing about coalitions provide rather limited approaches to the study and understanding of radical alliances; i.e.: coalitions whose goals are to fundamentally change interpersonal relations and social structure in order to achieve equality and true social justice. This anthology challenges dominant approaches of explaining social movements and coalition building. Based on numerous case studies of alliances created between disparate peoples and among a variety of groups, the authors show that both resource mobilization theories and identity politics frameworks for the most part are inadequate for conceptualizing how alliances have been and can be created across boundaries of gender, race/ethnicity, class, nationality, ideology, sexual orientation, and age. The theoretical approach we propose suggests that coalitions are fluid sites of collective behavior where the blending of multiple identities with political activism interact with structural conditions to influence the development of commitments, strategies and specific actions. This analogy makes a contribution to a body of knowledge that aims to understand and explain how radical coalitions work in order to enable the development of visions and plans for change that advance and sustain political and social activity.

Table of Contents:
Part 1 Preface Part 2 Foreword Part 3 1: Introduction Part 4 I: Theoretical Perspectives Chapter 5 2: Multiple Identity and Coalition Building: How Identity Differences Within Us Enable Radical Alliances Among Us Chapter 6 3: The Dream of Common Differences: Coalitions, Progressive Politics and Black Feminist Thought Chapter 7 4: From Mere Solidarity to Mirror Solidarity: Building Alliances on Perceptual Ground Part 8 II: Barriers to Coalition Formation Chapter 9 5: Collaborating Across Difference: From Theory and Rhetoric to the Hard Reality of Building Coalitions Chapter 10 6: Building Alliances Between Immigrant Rights and Queer Movements Chapter 11 7: "Isms" and AIDS: Transforming Multicultural Coalitions into Radical Alliances Part 12 III: Local Community-Based Coalitions Chapter 13 8: The Challenge and Rewards of Coalition Building: Pittsburgh's Alliance for Progressive Action Chapter 14 9: Party Time? Building a Progressive Electoral Movement: A Case for the New Party Chapter 15 10: Organizing for Democracy Through Faith-Based Institutions: The Industrial Areas Foundation in Action Chapter 16 11: Let's Not Create Evilness for This River: Inter-Ethic Environmental Alliances of Native Americans and Rural Whites in Northern Wisconsin Part 17 IV: Feminist Coalitions Chapter 18 12: Anti-Rape Coalitions: Radical, Liberal, and Black Feminists Challenging Boundaries Chapter 19 13: Negotiating Difference: Singaporean Women Building an Ethics of Respect Chapter 20 14: Feminist Women and (Pro) Feminist Men: Moving from an Uneasy to Radical Alliance Part 21 V: Student Coalitions Chapter 22 15: Reasons to Resist: Coalition Building at Indiana University Chapter 23 16: Building Community Amidst the Ruins: Strategies for Struggle from the Coalition for Justice at South Hampton College Part 24 VI: International Coalitions Chapter 25 17: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered Alliances: The Perils of Success Chapter 26 18: Coalitions Working for Social Justice: Transnational NGOs and International Governance Part 27 Index

About the Author :
Jill M. Bystydzienski is director of the Women's Studies Program and professor of sociology at Iowa State University. Steven P. Schacht is assistant professor of sociology at Plattsburgh State University of New York.

Review :
This diverse collection of essays and case studies provides a fascinating introduction to the difficulties in developing and sustaining coalitions committed to social change. The rich studies in Forging Radical Alliances Across Differences illuminate the complex processes by which multiple identities both within us and among us can be mobilized for progressive social change. In examining organizing efforts designed to protect the environment, to end the devastation of AIDS, to fight violence against women, and to gain economic security for workers and their families in a globalizing context, the contributors provide exciting new evidence about the possibilities of coalition building for social, environmental, and economic justice.