Insight 1: Evidence is not enough

The report concludes that whilst it is vital to have more and better evidence to encourage change, evidence alone is not enough. A movement must also change the hearts and minds of the public and increase the power of those who stand to benefit from change. The report suggests that social movements should simplify the cause by breaking it down into individual parts to reframe it in public debate, and create a sense of urgency that compels people to act.

Insight 2: Build an ecosystem of influence

Social movements should not solely focus on elite research, and they need to stimulate real change. Instead, movements must cultivate leadership to tackle social challenges effectively. The report concludes that social movements must build a strong ecosystem of influence that includes a diverse range of functions and has the resources, capability, and capacity to fulfil these roles effectively.

Insight 3: Cultivators are crucial

The report suggests that cultivators, who work to engage and grow social movements, are an essential part of a successful ecosystem. It is vital to build leadership and networks to tackle social challenges effectively. This means working to sustain and grow movements that can effectively change the hearts and minds of the public.

Insight 4: Prepare for and respond to events

The report highlights that social movements need to prepare for and respond to events. It is critical to have a spokesperson network that can cater to different target audiences to cut through and advocate for a cause. They need to use language that is catered to different audiences and diverse markers, to make them understand the complexities and accessibility of the movement’s overall objectives.

Insight 5: Build on your movement’s assets, manage its limitations

Social movements should build on their movement’s assets to overcome limitations and identify barriers to change. The report suggests simplifying the problem by identifying an individual component and taking that specific piece of knowledge to break the problem down and reframe it in public debate. It highlights how essential it is to sustain and cultivate movements that can effectively change hearts and minds and overcome institutional resistance that seeks to thwart any genuinely transformative changes.

Conclusion

To make change, social movements must work to decrease entrenched interests that obstruct progress by simplifying the story of what causes a problem and how to solve it whilst simultaneously prioritising an ecosystem of influence that can effectively change hearts and minds. The research concludes that successful movements change power relations to the benefit of those with the most profound needs, and this is what should drive all social movements.