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Remaining in or leaving climate activism – insights from current and former activists on sustained engagement
Date
2025-09-01
Abstract
This study examines factors influencing sustained engagement and disengagement in climate activism, specifically within Extinction Rebellion. Through interviews with 26 current and former activists, we identify 10 barriers and facilitators, organized into 3 themes: Socio organizational barriers and facilitators, Efficacy perceptions, and Burnout and strategies to avoid exhaustion. Participants discussed the following barriers to engagement, potentially leading to disengagement: (1) a lack of social integration, for example, due to biographical differences or difficulties in finding a clear role; (2) conflicts and disagreements (3) doubts about having an impact; (4) challenges within a non-hierarchical organization, such as unclear decision making procedures or informal leaderships; and (5) burnout stemming from activism-related stressors; and (6) stressors external to activism. Conversely, factors facilitating engagement were: (1) strong social connections; (2) a pragmatic approach to impact, for example, enabled by having a long-term perspective on outcomes; (3) being driven by moral convictions; and (4) access to organizational and individual strategies to manage stress, including the acceptance of varying commitment levels. The findings suggest that the impact of these barriers and facilitators on the activist trajectory is influenced by one’s motivations for engaging. Our discussion offers insights into fostering sustained engagement in social movements.
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Description
Publisher
Routledge Taylor & Francis Group
Citation
Social Movement Studies, pp. 1–18
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Funding Information
Sustainable Development Goals
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License
Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International