What binds us all together?
Coalitions have been cropping up everywhere. Look a little closer and you’ll see lots of interpretations.
We are being very purposeful here. For starters, let’s clarify our interpretation of coalition meaning.
The noun coalition comes from the Latin word coalitiō, meaning “to grow together.”
At Unstitution, we take this original meaning to heart. We use the term coalition in the widest context. Bringing people together from across any and all divides — sectors, disciplines, cultures, genders, generations, and the varied strata of society — all citizens — is the lifeblood of our collaborative commons work and big hairy collective mission to reboot society’s operating system… This mission is bigger than all of us and needs many more with gifts differing actively engaged.
We’ve observed the term being used in ways that are not really true to the spirit and intent of coalition work. For example, forming coalitions of one or two sectors, or within activist groups or industries to lobby, fight or oppose a third sector or other group often reinforces competitive polarizing win-lose dynamics.
These kinds of initiatives, reflecting a forceful push strategy and propagating everywhere are potentially impactful and necessary under some circumstances, some of the time. However, even the best of intentions all too often fall short. Pervasive domination-oppression patterns recur and cling…manifesting in many forms…
Pushing harder invariably leads to countervailing push back — with the opposing force(s) doubling down on their efforts to strengthen or recoup their influence or power base.
When we get off that win-lose merry-go-round, we can potentially find workable ways to bring coalitiō to life
Coalition = Coalitiō
Unstitution catalyzes, convenes and supports collaborative communities, initiatives and coalitions based on overarching interconnected themes. Our work aims to bridge any and all significant divides in ways that can productively help to rebalance society and its operating systems.
The term coalition is also often used interchangeably with consortium, alliance or partnership. While there are some overlapping qualities, we discern important differences beyond subtlety, nuance or semantics.
Bringing people together in binding coalitions as a working purposeful work system, comprising a wider spectrum of stake/care/holder interests, can help transcend dysfunctional competition and pervasive double binds that keep people and groups in conflict, at cross purposes and/or diluting efforts. It is so important to step up and leverage collaborative efforts and opportunities, channelling limited energy and resources.
Okay…but what the heck are binding coalitions?
Right…we propose to take things a step farther. Bringing people together is just the beginning. Focused mission critical work takes flight when there is enough binding connective tissue or glue with real stakes whereby people with differing perspectives can really grow together, finding common ground toward common[s] purpose in coalitions that are fit-for-purpose, now and able to adapt, as things evolve and progress — for the future.
At Unstitution, working from the space between, we’ve been learning the ropes ourselves, patterned as a collaborative commons. Our learning is an ongoing development process as we live into our own commons governance framework, practices and emergent needs and opportunities.
While no two coalitions are the same, when warranted, we are now better poised to help the coalitions we (co)-catalyze and convene establish the governance and operating structure best suited to their driving purpose and unique needs. In other words, rights and obligations are clearly defined — with the right amount of structure, but not too much.
More information on governance options for the coalitions we co-catalyze are discussed in this article. Dance to a different tune on a new dancefloor. We elaborate further on the need for alternative work systems — that don’t succumb to the limitations of conventionally configured/incorporated organizations and have capacities that go beyond loose networks and alliances etc
Why is this important? Don’t we want to get rid of binding structures altogether?
Coalitions are essentially non-hierarchical. While they run on shared, fluid adaptive leadership, they do require some enabling contextual structure and clarity of roles to carry out needed work, build and sustain trust, make progress and thrive.
How often have you seen promising initiatives fizzle out and die, or fail to get off the ground? Coalition work has a higher probability for meaningful progress and impact when it’s set up well from the start — involving the usual and the unusual suspects as early as possible, with alignment on some minimum critical governing principles to deal with the inevitable bumps — before they are encountered. Some reliable resilience can be built-in, while leaving ample room for emergence and adaptability. In essence this provides some antifragile insurance.
The beauty of virtuous coalitions
The network effect of binding coalitions can spawn other synergistic initiatives and coalitions. Sometimes this exponential amplification becomes a coalition of coalitions. We call these, individually and working together — virtuous coalitions. The good gains momentum, begetting more good — contagious in a positive way. Virtuous coalitions can also have a neutralizing effect, whereby the negative and paralyzing power of dysfunctional monsters are increasingly diminished.
Coalition Readiness and Game Be
While we might wish for instantly well-functioning coalitions, the reality calls for some serious prep work. Decades of experience with messy humanness and monsters running amok, has taught us some crucial (painful) lessons. We call the early stage of building binding coalitions that are fit for purpose — coalition readiness. We’ve learned that the foundation must be built first, creating enabling conditions for deep collaboration and trust enhancing relationships that enable diverse groups of people to discover their common ground.
Of course there are still challenges and hurdles, but the good news is that (many) people are fed up with the status quo and (more) open to new ways of working and collaborating for common good.
Evolutionary Navigation illuminates promising pathways forward, including Game Be — ways of being that are really not a game — operating principles and rules of engagement, helping us all shape, apply and adapt patterns that are life-affirming.
Coalitions can form anywhere and everywhere — global and local — glocal
This work can begin anywhere.
It takes place, spawns and scales out in a variety of multi-directional ways.
Some coalitions begin on the ground as focused local community initiatives. (Trans)contextual insights and learnings gained, documented and demonstrated through research and story-telling, can be applied and adapted in other local coalitions, anywhere in the world.
Some coalitions begin as overarching global theme-based systemic social issues. Learnings are shared and adapted for local coalitions that can spawn anywhere in the world.
Often local and global coalition work is underway simultaneously. Learnings gained are emergent and the cross pollinating occurs in iterative, organic ways.
The term glocal truly and meaningfully can come to life.
Where are you rooted in the world?
What needs and opportunities do you see?
How might binding coalition work intersect with your interests and initiatives?
*This article was updated March 2024, reflecting additional perspectives and ongoing action research, as we continue to observe, listen, assimilate, curate and adapt — a learning journey for us all.
Unstitution was birthed as a collective creative commons and nested ecosystem. We (co-)catalyze and support collaborative communities, initiatives and coalitions where people from across sectors, disciplines, cultures, generations and walks-of-life work together on mission critical issues. From readiness through to regenerative progress — moving beyond polarization — is how we roll. The links embedded throughout this article are a warm invitation to go a bit deeper, at any time. For more insights reflecting our ongoing journey, our suite of Unstitution articles are published on Medium. They portray a small sample of the ways we are adapting and contributing among ever-expanding commons-based communities and initiatives inspired and fuelled by citizens — perhaps better described as denizens — anywhere in the world — living into the principles and spirit that govern our collaborative work.
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