Collaborative methods in social movement organizing : a case study of long-term alliance development and energy efficiency planning in Massachusetts

Abstract

Some social movement organizations have begun to use collaborative methods to create decentralized network power for shared action through long-term alliance development and participation in collaborative public decision-making forums. Through the history of Community Labor United (CLU), a Boston-based long-term community-labor alliance, I establish the existence of mutual benefits between organizing and collaborative methods for creating solutions to complex problems. The prerequisites for the application of collaborative methods--diversity of interests, interdependence of interests, and authentic dialogue (DIAD)--are used to describe CLU's application of collaborative methods to the development of their alliance and their participation in statewide energy efficiency planning and implementation. I conclude by providing recommendations for the co-application of social movement organizing and collaborative planning practices to energy efficiency planning and complex public policy issues more generally.