Throughout history, social movements have been engines of change. Major turning points—like the abolition of slavery, women winning the right to vote, the civil rights movement in the United States, the fall of apartheid in South Africa, and the global fight against climate change—were shaped and propelled by social movements. From the fight against colonialism and the struggle for self-determination to the demand for Black freedom in Europe and the Americas, social movements have been at the heart of protecting marginalized communities’ rights. Women’s fight for equality, workers’ fight for dignity, and many other struggles for fundamental rights emerged in times of crisis and have persisted, evolving while staying relevant. These movements have shown time and time again that people coming together can shape the course of history.
With this in mind, how can we not place our bets on social movements to lead us through the polycrisis of our time? How can we not back them to create an alternative world order where justice is the foundation of our social, political, and economic systems?
At the African Social Movements Baraza gathering this year in Ghana, representatives from movements and organizations across the continent came together to celebrate past wins, understand present challenges, and strategize for the future. As critical rights and freedoms face increasing opposition on every level, social movements are key to the positive change we all strive for. Their agility, connectedness, and resilience are precisely what we need in this moment.
How do we know social movements are effective? Because opposition groups are adopting similar tactics—mobilizing civil society, forming grassroots organizations, and leveraging community engagement—to advance their agendas. They have been so successful in shaping change that those opposing progress are adopting these tactics to sow confusion, disrupt social cohesion, and undermine democratic institutions.
So, how do we bet on social movements?
1. We join them.
Are you part of any social movement working toward justice? Are you actively contributing to their work? Are you recruiting others to join? If you answered “no” to any of these, today is the day to turn that “no” into a resounding “yes.” Social movements are built and sustained by people. The one you think is thriving without you will be far more powerful with your participation.
2. We resource them.
A wise person once said at the Baraza, “The biggest resource social movements are the people in them.” After joining, we must commit to resourcing movements with our time, skills, networks, and, yes, money. Change doesn’t happen by simply showing up. It requires hard, often long, work. It also requires the right kind of financial support: if you’re supporting social movements through institutional funding, ensure it is flexible. The forces of injustice are nimble, and those fighting it deserve the same flexibility.
3. We care for them.
Building a just world is not without its sacrifices. Social movements often face attacks—not only from those in power but also from internal divisions and the lingering effects of historical injustices. In the heat of this fight, we must create spaces to care for one another. As Jessica Horn has said, “We are wounded warriors.” The people leading these movements are scarred from both external and internal struggles. To care for them means ensuring they are physically nourished, mentally supported, and emotionally looked after. We cannot fight for justice when our people are hungry, sick, or exhausted. Care is essential, not because we are weak but because even the strongest need time and care to keep showing up again and again.
4. We listen to them.
Nothing I’ve said here is new. The important thing for those in positions of power is to listen—and to act. The gains we’ve made, though under heavy backlash, are a direct result of the work of social movements. This backlash itself is a sign that power is shifting. It’s in moments like these that we must ask ourselves: Are we doing the right thing? As we push to create a world grounded in people-centered justice, betting on social movements is not just the right thing to do—it is the only thing that will work.
The world today is at a crossroads. We face a relentless wave of injustice that threatens to undo the progress that social movements have fought so hard for. But history teaches us that the greatest strides forward are often made in the face of adversity. This is our time to act—to stand with social movements, to resource them, to care for them, and to amplify their voices. This is how we can build a just world, where power is in the hands of the people not the few.
At the Legal Empowerment Fund, we stand by this principle. We recognize the power of people-centered justice, and we believe that social movements are the heart of that power. The question is no longer whether we should bet on them, but how we will show up. Our world depends on it.
