Risk Orientation in Affecting Structural Change: Conflict in Spontaneous Activist Coalitions

Activist coalitions play a critical role in preserving institutional accountability, requiring ongoing cooperation to achieve shared goals. The 2022 Academic Worker Strike and the 2023-2024 Pro-Palestine Organizing were two prominent sites of activism at UCSB; both coalitions featured activist infighting and organizational fracturing. By examining 64 interviews with coalition members, this investigation reveals the different ways individuals understand and manage tensions, and how these differences shape movement outcomes. How activists relate to macro pressures, such as world events and institutional commitments, shape their strategic outlook within the coalition. These forces lead to a re-creation of external structures within the movement, and the resulting difference in orientation towards these structures create sites of conflict. To aid in collaboration, we recommend that activist coalitions invest in communication practices that address the diverse needs of members.