As the world slides further toward authoritarianism and the prospects for advancing social justice through electoral democracy narrow, the power of communities to prevail against strongman politics and corporate domination becomes increasingly crucial. In Movements That Win, long-time activist Aric McBay urges readers to remain hopeful, connected, vocal, and strong. He champions the creative innovations, bravery, and persistence of those who take risks to organise their communities to confront injustices imposed on them in the name of greed, militarism, and racism. Building on the analysis presented in his two-volume set, Full Spectrum Resistance, McBay showcases a wide range of attainable victories that we can and should emulate through solidarity and direct action. Among the triumphs McBay describes are: Indigenous groups' successful effort to shut down a pipeline and remove colonial statues; neighbourhoods repelling gentrification and a nuclear waste dump in Australia; residents halting the construction of a parking garage in Boston's Chinatown; American disability rights activists' use of direct action to pave the way for the Americans with Disabilities Act; farmers preventing the construction of a nuclear reactor in rural Germany and multiple neighbourhood networks in the US preventing Wal-Mart from setting up shop in their community. Along the way, McBay provides first-hand insights into the key factors that inspire people to join local movements, how to persevere during backlash and repression, and how to build momentum through small victories.
