Yeah I agree with this. Specifically, I don’t think that basically anyone working on cage-free/alt proteins/most pragmatic issues would agree with the statement below (I think approximately everyone thinks we should pursue several effective approaches, not just one).
A search for the (one) most effective approach. For example it’s not uncommon for advocates to say the movement should converge on one specific approach, such as alt-proteins/cage-free campaigns/legal advocacy/whatever — with an implication that we should significantly discount other approaches.
I also agree with your other comment Thom about timelines. I think talking about theories of victory is much more relevant if you think we can end factory farming in 10 years (which people in Animal Rising do). I think it is more like 75 years away, so it makes less sense to discuss the details (especially when it is hard to make good predictions for things 50+ years away).
Cheers for engaging James, I appreciate you spending the time on this.
On your second point about timelines: I agree to the extent that talking about theories of victory in fine-grained detailwould only be more relevant on shorter timelines. But even on longer timelines (e.g. whether it’s 50 or 200 years), I’d argue we need theories of victory in broad strokes—at least outlining what major outcomes we are reasonably confident would need to happen. Otherwise how can we make bets on what capacities we need to build now? For example, can we be confident that we’re currently investing enough in mechanisms to shift public opinion, or our ability to engage in lobbying? These are just examples—the main point is, I think we should map the terrain even if roughly so we have a better sense of where to walk.
On the “one approach” claim: This is a fair point, it’s probably the least prevalent of the three characteristics I ascribe to short-term pragmatism, and I was a bit hesitant about it. I think it’s largely absent amongst organisational leaders (though I wouldn’t say zero). I decided to include it anyway as I have encountered it plenty in broader movement culture from different camps, and I think culture amongst non-leaders still matters. I’ve seen e.g. claims that things like cage-free, nonviolent disruption, and more recently very often alt-proteins, are “the most effective thing” and the key to changing things for animals. But overall I think in recent years, we’ve moved away from searching for silver bullets and more towards acknowledging that multiple approaches are needed.
Yeah I agree with this. Specifically, I don’t think that basically anyone working on cage-free/alt proteins/most pragmatic issues would agree with the statement below (I think approximately everyone thinks we should pursue several effective approaches, not just one).
I also agree with your other comment Thom about timelines. I think talking about theories of victory is much more relevant if you think we can end factory farming in 10 years (which people in Animal Rising do). I think it is more like 75 years away, so it makes less sense to discuss the details (especially when it is hard to make good predictions for things 50+ years away).
Cheers for engaging James, I appreciate you spending the time on this.
On your second point about timelines: I agree to the extent that talking about theories of victory in fine-grained detail would only be more relevant on shorter timelines. But even on longer timelines (e.g. whether it’s 50 or 200 years), I’d argue we need theories of victory in broad strokes—at least outlining what major outcomes we are reasonably confident would need to happen. Otherwise how can we make bets on what capacities we need to build now? For example, can we be confident that we’re currently investing enough in mechanisms to shift public opinion, or our ability to engage in lobbying? These are just examples—the main point is, I think we should map the terrain even if roughly so we have a better sense of where to walk.
On the “one approach” claim: This is a fair point, it’s probably the least prevalent of the three characteristics I ascribe to short-term pragmatism, and I was a bit hesitant about it. I think it’s largely absent amongst organisational leaders (though I wouldn’t say zero). I decided to include it anyway as I have encountered it plenty in broader movement culture from different camps, and I think culture amongst non-leaders still matters. I’ve seen e.g. claims that things like cage-free, nonviolent disruption, and more recently very often alt-proteins, are “the most effective thing” and the key to changing things for animals. But overall I think in recent years, we’ve moved away from searching for silver bullets and more towards acknowledging that multiple approaches are needed.