Some thoughts, as someone who has founded a climate protest movement (a Singapore branch of Fridays For Future), and also read a lot of research on social movements to inform my decision making, and also somewhat acquainted with community organising in EA:
The first difference I’ve seen between EA organising and climate organising is the initial barrier to new member participation. You’ve cited Extinction Rebellion as an example of member-led participation. From beginning to end, the main thing a Rebel needs to do as an active, contributing member is to show up to civil disobedience actions. While this requires personal risk and planning, it’s significantly more straightforward and well-defined than what Core EA members would usually go through. Even “beginner” EAs have to read incredibly lengthy introductions to EA. Of course, one could correctly point out that EA has significantly higher standards for epistemic rigour and sustained long-term contribution. As you note in your earlier posts in the sequence, more steps requiring more guidance/support/ feedback/expertise, drifts towards more centralisation.
The second difference is different demands for core members. One thing that fascinates me ever since I “transitioned” from climate movement to EA movement is how, justice sensitivity and expansive altruism aside, the two select for completely different traits. EA essentially wants highly-engaged members to do one of two things: contribute by working in EA long-term (research, operations etc.), or donating, which also skews long-term. These behaviours generally fit into a “normal” leadership hierarchy. Climate/social cause movements, meanwhile, are generally dealing with well-defined and contentious issues, where the theory of change relies on public shows of mass support. The most highly engaged members may take on high risk of social/legal/physical repercussions, and participation correlates with risk tolerance and disagreeableness. While participation does rely on strong ties,[1] the selection pressure is practically polar opposite. Rebels are more inclined follow those willing to face prison for the cause,[2] while EAs select for “potential for impact”, which correlates with proxies that are high-status and suitable for hierarchies (degree qualification, technical skill, references from other EAs).[3]
Anyway, I just discovered your sequence and theories of change. I agree and have had similar thoughts for quite a while. As someone who researched member-organised movement and tried to build one as a contingency for the co-founders’ imprisonment, I’d say a member-organised structure is difficult for EA to adopt.
That said, I’m a very vocal supporter of EAs learning best practices from others. The climate movement that turned climate risk from a niche x-risk into the largest mobilisation of people, capital and resources in human history, and I regularly apply its lessons to planning EA meta/longtermism projects. Would love to talk more on this![4]
This also applies to some branches of FridaysForFuture where organiser status carries significant legal risks (i.e. most places outside the US and EU).
As a side note, I find that in EA, virtue signalling in the technical sense is far less prominent (see: opinions towards protests, intersectionality and veganism), and others have suggested that EA has a Deference Culture. There’s also the elephant in the room where “Core EA” is 70% male while climate activists are 60-70% female, a comparison that is very noticeable and very baffling.
Now that I’m doing the “EA networking” thing I should be more structured with introductions+engaging people across multiple topics/project ideas I have. If anyone has recommendations please let me know.
Hi Vaidehi,
Some thoughts, as someone who has founded a climate protest movement (a Singapore branch of Fridays For Future), and also read a lot of research on social movements to inform my decision making, and also somewhat acquainted with community organising in EA:
The first difference I’ve seen between EA organising and climate organising is the initial barrier to new member participation. You’ve cited Extinction Rebellion as an example of member-led participation. From beginning to end, the main thing a Rebel needs to do as an active, contributing member is to show up to civil disobedience actions. While this requires personal risk and planning, it’s significantly more straightforward and well-defined than what Core EA members would usually go through. Even “beginner” EAs have to read incredibly lengthy introductions to EA. Of course, one could correctly point out that EA has significantly higher standards for epistemic rigour and sustained long-term contribution. As you note in your earlier posts in the sequence, more steps requiring more guidance/support/ feedback/expertise, drifts towards more centralisation.
The second difference is different demands for core members. One thing that fascinates me ever since I “transitioned” from climate movement to EA movement is how, justice sensitivity and expansive altruism aside, the two select for completely different traits. EA essentially wants highly-engaged members to do one of two things: contribute by working in EA long-term (research, operations etc.), or donating, which also skews long-term. These behaviours generally fit into a “normal” leadership hierarchy. Climate/social cause movements, meanwhile, are generally dealing with well-defined and contentious issues, where the theory of change relies on public shows of mass support. The most highly engaged members may take on high risk of social/legal/physical repercussions, and participation correlates with risk tolerance and disagreeableness. While participation does rely on strong ties,[1] the selection pressure is practically polar opposite. Rebels are more inclined follow those willing to face prison for the cause,[2] while EAs select for “potential for impact”, which correlates with proxies that are high-status and suitable for hierarchies (degree qualification, technical skill, references from other EAs).[3]
Anyway, I just discovered your sequence and theories of change. I agree and have had similar thoughts for quite a while. As someone who researched member-organised movement and tried to build one as a contingency for the co-founders’ imprisonment, I’d say a member-organised structure is difficult for EA to adopt.
That said, I’m a very vocal supporter of EAs learning best practices from others. The climate movement that turned climate risk from a niche x-risk into the largest mobilisation of people, capital and resources in human history, and I regularly apply its lessons to planning EA meta/longtermism projects. Would love to talk more on this![4]
Sources: How Social Media Facilitates Political Protest: Information, Motivation, and Social Networks—Jost − 2018 - Political Psychology—Wiley Online Library, Small Change | The New Yorker
This also applies to some branches of FridaysForFuture where organiser status carries significant legal risks (i.e. most places outside the US and EU).
As a side note, I find that in EA, virtue signalling in the technical sense is far less prominent (see: opinions towards protests, intersectionality and veganism), and others have suggested that EA has a Deference Culture. There’s also the elephant in the room where “Core EA” is 70% male while climate activists are 60-70% female, a comparison that is very noticeable and very baffling.
Now that I’m doing the “EA networking” thing I should be more structured with introductions+engaging people across multiple topics/project ideas I have. If anyone has recommendations please let me know.
Thanks for this awesome comment—when I have a little more time im going to address it properly!