Coalitions are messy. We talked a little about that on Monday. You get people from different sectors, with different politics and priorities, trying to row in the same direction. It’s hard enough when everyone agrees. Throw in some ideological tension — which is pretty common these days — and now you’ve got to manage the current and the cargo.
Here’s the truth: If your coalition is broad enough to matter, it’s probably broad enough to disagree. That’s not a flaw … it’s a feature. But it does mean you need a plan.
Here’s how we coach our clients through it:
- Set clear boundaries early. If your coalition is about affordable housing, don’t let it drift into debates about national politics or unrelated fights in the ongoing culture war. The best tension management is prevention.
- Agree on the outcome, not the reason. Your tourism group might care about local events. Your environmental partner might care about land use. If both want zoning reform, great. You don’t have to agree on why it matters, just that it does.
- Pick your spokespersons carefully. Not everyone in the coalition needs to be the face of the issue. If someone’s brand is too hot in certain rooms, let others lead the message. That’s not betrayal, it’s strategy. Certain people will have better relationships than others. And some will be polarizing just because of their name.
- Know when to separate. Some fights just aren’t coalition fights. If an issue becomes too polarizing, don’t force consensus. Let groups speak independently while preserving the shared work elsewhere.
In a state like South Carolina, ideological tension is part of the landscape. You may be standing shoulder-to-shoulder with someone on tax reform today, and fighting them on a social issue tomorrow. That’s the reality. The key is knowing what fights belong in the coalition, and what fights don’t.
Coalitions fighting many “social issues” from a left or left-leaning perspective are starting from a disadvantage in many places across the South. Internal fights or disagreements will shatter whatever power you may be able to cobble together.
Takeaway:
BridgePSG helps advocacy leaders navigate complexity without getting stuck in conflict. We help you build coalitions that hold together long enough to get the job done, without pretending everyone has to agree on everything.