Collective power: what it is and why it’s important

This resource is for anyone who wants to understand what collective power means and why its important to our work.

It covers:

• Catalyst’s current view of collective power (it’s evolving)
• what collective power looks like in practice 
• the differences between collective power and collective action
• how Catalyst is supporting communities of resistance to build collective power.

What collective power is

We like the Innovation Network’s comprehensive definition of collective power. Here’s our version:

Collective power is the strength of a group of people, communities, and organisations. These groups work together to make transformational changes. And everyone involved uses their knowledge, skills, and actions to reach the same goal. 

Collective power means giving more control to people most affected by a problem. This is often those with marginalised identities. They can take part in deciding how money is spent, what strategies to use, and what the group should focus on.

The network’s collective power framework identifies 3 key elements to collective power:

• transformation: having the shared goal of systemic change
• equity: shifting power to those most impacted by an issue
• co-creation: everyone involved shaping and contributing to what happens from beginning to end

Examples of collective power include:

• people in a sector joining together to improve working conditions, like trade unions
• securing human rights for Palestinians: Palestine solidarity campaign
• ending systemic racism: Black Lives Matter
• showing public solidarity with racialised minorities in the UK: anti-racist counter protests
• supporting survivors of sexual violence: the me too movement

Why collective power matters 

Social change is difficult to accomplish individually. Working together builds the collective power needed to make social change happen.

Collective power is important for: 

1. Raising awareness of issues: a group or network can help spread messages more widely.
2. Protecting shared interests: people who are united are more able to defend each other. They can also defend their rights, resources, and interests.
3. Amplifying voices: when people work together, it's harder to ignore them. This principle underpins social movements, unions, and advocacy groups.
4. Sharing resources and skills: collective power enables pooling of resources. It makes it easier to take on larger projects. And to work on initiatives that need a range of talents and ongoing effort.
5. Protecting vulnerable individuals: collectives can help protect members with less power. For example, unions defend workers’ rights.
6. Increasing innovation and better problem-solving: collaboration encourages a variety of viewpoints and ideas. This can mean more creative solutions to problems.
7. Building resilience and sustainability: sharing risks and responsibilities builds resilience. This helps maintain momentum and create impact. When individuals take turns contributing the risk of burnout reduces.

The difference between collective power and collective action

Collective power is something that a group has. It’s strength in numbers. It’s having a louder voice (and possibly more legitimacy) because there are many of you.

Collective action is what a group does. In her book, Governing the Commons: the evolution of institutions for collective action, political scientist and Nobel Prize Winner Elinor Ostrom describes collective action as:

‍“...the voluntary and intended action of a group trying to benefit from its shared interest to achieve a common goal.”

Catalyst, collective power and communities of resistance

Catalyst is a network because collectives make more impact. We’re connected to, and working collaboratively with, like minded organisations. This helps us build the collective power that’s part of our mission: ‘centring community needs in design, digital and data decision making through building collective power.’

Through our Tech Justice project, we’re supporting communities of resistance.

“Communities of resistance are...grassroots collectives and organisations, formed by and for marginalised groups, that actively resist and challenge systems of oppression, exclusion, and inequality." - Hannah Turner-Uaandja, Tech Justice lead, Catalyst

Communities of resistance work towards transformative social change. They use approaches grounded in decolonising practice, justice-led work and anti-oppressive values. They operate as safe spaces for solidarity, support, and advocacy, often addressing issues such as:

• racial justice
• migrant rights
• economic equity
• mental health liberation
• environmental justice
• anti-violence

Through direct action, mutual aid, community organizing, and resource-sharing, they work to dismantle structural barriers and build a more just, inclusive society.

The Tech Justice project will help organisations build collective power through:

• shaping and facilitating conversations about liberatory tech and tech justice
• developing practices in these areas
• centring people who are most harmed by damaging tech.

Catalyst has allies who hold systemic privilege and influence. For example: funders, digital agencies, white and non-disabled people. We want to use their power to help build momentum behind liberatory tech and tech justice. This will help us create positive changes more quickly. And, as the Nobel Prize winning novelist and editor Toni Morrison said: “if you have some power, then your job is to empower somebody else.”

“If you have some power, then your job is to empower somebody else.” - Toni Morrison, Nobel Prize winner

Where to find out more

• The Collective Impact Forum podcast explores what building collective power means.
• Ted Rau is a sociocracy trainer and coach. Patterns in self-organising and collective power are the focus of his book, Collective Power.
• Jennifer Disla’s helpful article considers how to develop collective power in organisations.
• Joshua P. Hill explores collective versus individual power in this Medium post.

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Photo by Rocketman Team.