This article hits on some key aspects of growth for the movement, however I believe most of its reasoning is fundamentally flawed. 1. 3.5% stat; I would say that while it is correct that the movement is based on social studies involving coup attempts for u.s. . From a systems thinking perspective of social systems this is still a sound stat. It’s referring to what is known as a ‘tipping point’ where the system goes from one basin of attraction to another. As generally tipping points occur at a strangely similar inflection point of (3.5) in pretty much all complex dynamic systems/at all scales. For reference look up ‘3.5 tipping point in system thinking graph’ in a photo search and its the graph with the branching trajectories. 2. Based on Social movements with specific focus/by an oppressed population; This is true that the logic is based on movements that were fundamentally different. However, we have never faced something like climate change (interconnected, global, wicked problem, etc…) as a species so we really have nothing else to base such a social movement on other then previous social movements. Hence, its our best guess for how to organize & address this. 3. Arrests changing system flawed logic; In systems thinking for the social sciences there are 12 leverage points. look up the previous sentance in a photo search for a graphic display of the organization. The arrest strategy is based on the system structure/self organization leverage point. This is the last leverage point in the human related leverage points before the value related leverage points (much harder to invoke). So based on systems thinking, this is one of the best stratagies available. This criticism is also missing the context of the situation we are in. Again we have never faced a situation where we have to change society at a systemic level in such a short time frame as a species. Usually these changes take hundreds or thousands of years. So unless the person who wrote this article has a better idea, I would say its lacking in context. 4. Lack of diversity within XR; I can't speak on this as I'm not based in the U.K. personally. However, I would say the U.S. chapter has addressed it to some extent by adding the 4th demand, we have. Although, much more can be done through outreach/the intersectionality approach. So I would say this is fundamentally flawed based on lack of social context and lack of understanding of how complex dynamic systems operate. Also, in a reply to another comment you stated just because you use the term social science people should not believe the article will be based on fact. As a social scientist I take offence to this as it is very misleading, and you should be ashamed.
