How Change Happens

In How Change Happens, Dr Duncan Green delves into the intricacies of social and political transformation, providing a comprehensive examination of how individuals and organisations can effectively catalyse change in society. Set against the backdrop of his 40 years of experience in international development and framed through the lens of Oxfam’s global endeavours, Green combines scholarly research with real-world applications to explore what drives progressive change.

Human society is a mosaic of would-be 'change agents', comprising campaigners, lobbyists, officials, and a myriad of organisations. Each is dedicated to improving public services, reforming laws and regulations, guaranteeing human rights, securing equitable treatment for the disadvantaged, and gaining broader recognition for various issues. However, despite the prevalence of these ambitious change-makers, universities strikingly lack a dedicated Department of Change Studies. Consequently, the discourse on change is scattered across different academic disciplines, seldom converging to provide actionable insights for those actively striving for transformation.

How Change Happens aims to bridge this gap between academia and practice. By synthesising the finest research from a range of academic fields and integrating the evolving practical understandings of activists, Green offers a nuanced exploration of social and political change mechanisms. The book draws on first-hand experiences from Oxfam, one of the world's largest social justice NGOs, to illustrate theories of change, test various ideas, and present the latest thinking on successful strategies for progressive change.

This second edition enhances its original offering with a new chapter by Dr Tom Kirk from the London School of Economics (LSE). He discusses the rising importance of digital technology in modern activism and evaluates the implications of populist movements and diminishing civic spaces on efforts to foster positive change. Green’s work not only provides a rich theoretical framework but also actionable insights for scholars, activists, and policymakers alike.

This is an open-access title available under the terms of a CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International licence. It is free to read at Oxford Scholarship Online and can be downloaded as a complimentary PDF from Oxford University Press and selected open access locations.