Lobbying the Lobbyists: How Progressive Challengers Take on CSO Elites and Their Lack of Diversity in the UK

In the aftermath of the MeToo and Black Lives Matter movements, there has been increased mobilization within civil society targeting large and influential CSOs on issues of discrimination, diversity, and inclusion. While much of the literature on civil society, social movements, and interest groups has focused on actors that aim to influence the state (political elites) and, more recently, corporations (business elites), there is a lack of studies theorizing the strategies of influence of groups that target civil society organizations and their elites. This study aims to theorize and empirically investigate the tactics and claim-making styles of grassroots challengers of civil society elites through three in-depth case studies: the online campaigns #CharitySoStraight, #CharitySoWhite, and #NonGraduatesWelcome. To do so, the study draws on social movement theory, suggesting that the targets of contention influence the strategies of influence that claimants adopt. Empirically, the study draws on interviews with activists behind the three campaigns and social media communication by these groups. The findings of this study represent a first step in unpacking how civil society elites, as targets of contention, shape the lobbying strategies of grassroots challengers and how these strategies may differ from those used to lobby political and business elites. Finally, the study sheds light on the strategies that activists perceive as most effective in tackling class, gender, LGBTQI, and racial inequalities within civil society.